Buffa’s Bar and Restaurant has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for soundproofing and legal fees.
The need for the campaign arouse through Buffa’s continued legal battles with their neighbor, New Orleans businessman Sidney Torres IV.
Earlier this year, Torres issued a lawsuit against the established neighborhood bar, claiming that Buffa’s had violated the city’s noise ordinance. Torres’ goal was to have Buffa’s Mayoralty Permit revoked, which allows them to host live music.
In order to prove that the sound levels have remained under 100db, the owners of Buffa’s were asked to conduct tests on Torres’ property, which turned out to be an expensive undertaking.
This was just one of the many costs that the lawsuit created. Those costs include installing additional soundproofing, attorney fees, and significant loss of revenue due to a negotiated reduced music schedule.
Buffa’s aims to raise $25,000 with their Indiegogo campaign. If they raise enough to cover their expenses, the rest will be donated to the Music and Culture Coalition of New Orleans (Maccno) in order to help others who’ve had their livelihood similarly threatened by the noise ordinance.
Buffa’s is offering twelve levels of donation ranging from $5 to $10,000. Some of the rewards include Buffa’s T-shirts, shout-outs on Buffa’s Facebook page, dinners at Buffa’s, Buffa’s hot sauce, a two-night stay in the Storyville hotel, and a CD of live performances from the back room at Buffa’s by local musicians such as Tom McDermott, Davis Rogan, The HoneyPots, The Mumbles, and many others.
The Indiegogo campaign began on October 20th, and will end on November 19th.
Check out an OffBeat video of Buffa’s owner Chuck Rogers walking us through the extensive renovations that are underway at the bar:
So far, Buffa’s has raised $3,225, or 13 percent, of the $25,000 goal.
