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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 3, 1997)
j u s t o u t ▼ July 3 . 1 9 9 7 T 13 ev ery b o d y talks about financial Instant cafe s e c u r i t y . .. Financial planning is a long-term , client-advisor relationship built upon With a clever line and a Ulysses S. Grant you can win yourself a ready-made restaurant T ing to you. I can understand your in by Inga Sorensen dividual needs, concerns and goals. eeling crafty? Got 50 bucks? Looking for an interesting career? How about a new life? F two-way communication. By listen A desire which seems to be his nature. Lowe has vowed to donate at least $5,000 from his entry fees to Project Open Hand, a San Francisco group that prepares and delivers food to people with HIV and AIDS. Since April 1996, Korso Cafe has made as many as four donations each month to supplement Project Open Hand’s nutritional ser vices. If you find yourself nodding affir matively, you may want to consider Robert Lowe’s invite. Lowe, the owner of San Francisco’s Korso Cafe, says he’s ready to reward a little ingenuity ccording to Lowe, Korso Cafe draws a in a big way. large queer clientele. He’s launched the Korso Cafe Dream Restau “Not that that’s hard in San Francisco,” rant Contest. The winner receives, well, the Korso he laughs, “but I think we do get even more gay Cafe. All it takes is $50 and a clever essay outlin and lesbian people here because of our location.” ing a nifty concept for what the South of Market Situated at Bryant between Ninth and 10th haunt could evolve into. streets, Korso Cafe is a skip away from the where “If you could forget about the red tape of the famous Dore Alley (i.e. leather) festival is owning a restaurant and just focus on the fun, held. Gay bars, most notably the Eagle, are nearby. what comes to mind?” ask contest promotional Lowe says he’s received “under one thou materials. “What would the decor look like? What sand” entries thus far. “But there are some inter would it feel like? Now’s your chance to do it your esting ideas,” he says. Among them a cyber cafe, way! Take a moment to imagine the possibilities, an acoustic jazz club, even a proposal to trans and ask yourself, ‘What would I do?’ ” form the cafe into a site housing a juvenile out Come up with a snappy idea, send in your reach program. green, and you may be the one to find out. Nab the big prize and you get the whole shebang—every thing from the stereo to the furniture to the full kitchen to the lease, which runs to 2007. According to Lowe, Korso Cafe grossed more than $200,000 last year. The fully equipped restau rant is approxim ately 2,400 square feet, seats 60- plus, and is zoned for beer and wine, outdoor seating and acoustic music. “After a few years of doing this, my [business] partner and I have decided to move on,” explains the spirited Lowe, 29, who along with Ursula Jost opened the pasta/sandwich shop three years ago. “We’ve had a successful go of it, but we’re now a little tired.” Lowe admits he hadn’t even worked in a restau rant prior to owning one. Robert Lowe and his dream restaurant, the Korso Cafe “But Ursula did have “That sounds like a cool idea,” he chirps. an extensive background And since the contest runs through July 31, in the food and wine industry,” he says. there’s still time to get more ideas into the hopper. According to Lowe, Switzerland native Jost, (The top 25 applicants will be interviewed by a also 29, had worked in Michelin-starred restau panel of judges representing the city’s entertain rants to casual tea rooms before joining forces ment, media and restaurant industries. A winner with him to establish Korso Cafe. will then be selected.) But now the vibrant duo say they are hungry Entries will be judged equally on the “basis of for new challenges. originality, appeal of concept and enthusiasm.” “We first tried to sell Korso, but we were really The competition is open to anyone 18 and older. put off by the types of people we were dealing Essays should be no longer than 500 words, with—rude—as well as the process,” explains and typed or printed neatly on an 8 1/2-by-11 -inch Lowe, who was a business and economics major piece of paper. Include your name, complete at the University of California, Santa Barbara. address, telephone number and confirmation that “It was a very unappealing experience,” says you are 18 or older. Lowe. Mail the essay and a $50 check or money So the two decided to scrap that conventional order, payable to Korso Cafe, to: San Francisco plan for this Spitfire Grillish formula, which he Dream Restaurant, PO Box 41-1406, San Fran hopes will attract inspired and creative contes cisco, CA 9414!. tants as opposed to stodgy suits. Entries must be postmarked no later than July "There are people out there who may have lots 31. For further details, call (415)522-8787 or of desire and imagination but not the capital to visit the cafe’s Web site (www.korso.com). start something,” he says. "This is an opportunity for those people. I’ve had opportunities in my life, and 1 like to be able to do that for others.” A I lis te n . 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