Baltic Kiss sets up "Go Fund Me" to keep doors open
Chef Tony Carracci and wife Suzi hope fans of Point Richmond's Baltic Kiss will help them keep the doors open at their live music venue and restaurant, which has struggled to keep up with expenses following a year of declining revenue and increased food and beverage costs.
According to Carracci, the local music hot spot almost closed last week on New Year's Eve after a challenging year that saw the business sink further into debt. But, after an outpouring of support, the couple decided to make one last effort to save their business by asking for just a little help from their friends.
On Tuesday afternoon, Carracci posted a link on social media to a GoFundMe page created as a last-ditch effort to save the nightclub from likely closure.
"Although we initially planned to close at the end of January, things have changed. The overwhelming love and support from all of you has given us hope — and we’ve decided to give it one more push. With some planned renovations to make our dining room and bar more functional, we’re ready to fight for the future of Baltic Kiss and the future of live music," a post on GoFiundMe said.
The Baltic Kiss opened in 2022 offering a unique venue for local musicians of various genres a place to play. Boasting a professional sound system and featuring its popular Louisana-style menu, Baltic Kiss has become a gathering place for the community. It is one of the few places in Richmond regularly offering live music, special events, and an opportunity to hear some of the Bay Area's best musicians.
The venue typically has a packed calendar that includes Jam Night, a karaoke night, Second Sunday Music, and a regular heavy rotation of local musicians. Recently, the Baltic Kiss hosted a fundraiser for Richmond guitarist Jason Becker, an event Carracci said drew a sizable crowd.
Linda Hemmila
Despite the array of musical offerings, the club's revenue hasn't grown as expected, and Carracci thinks this is partially due to the recent economic struggles many Americans face.
"I don't think people are going out as much as they were," Carracci said. "I think they don't have the disposable income they had a few years back."
Carracci said that along with ever-increasing food costs and the decline in business, there is also the matter of rent, insurance, and payroll, all of which he acknowledges he has fallen behind with. He says he is hopeful that with help from GoFundMe, he can make a few improvements and catch up with bills.
"We are trying our best, but we need a little help; 2024 was brutal, and we got behind. The thing about bills is they don't go down when the business does; they stay the same," Carracci said of his mounting expenses.
Property manager Daniel Butt, who filed to evict the Baltic Kiss on December 2, 2024, said he knows Carracci is scrambling but worries it is too late to try to salvage the business.
"I really want to and have tried to support the Baltic Kiss. Their rent is lower than any other tenant that has been in the space since the 1980s, and we have allowed them to make some changes, but January 23, that's the date. It's set for kind of a drop-dead," Butt said. "What’s so sad is that I really liked what he’d created there.”
Despite this, Carracci says he's not giving up on his business.
"We signed a 10-year lease and plan to be around for a long time," Carracci said. "We have been so impressed with the people in Richmond and the sense of community here, we aren't going to give up."
To donate and help save the Baltic Kiss, visit their GoFundMe.
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