The Beacons Are Lit: Help Us Save the Black Cat Caffe

  • €11,056
    raised of €4,500.00 goal goal
245% Funded
248 Donors
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After three years of hard work and investment things started to look bright.

We managed to turn a lowly local dive bar in Zagreb, Croatia, into a haven where gamers can play for hours without being charged for or harassed, where there were more often talk about DnD or GURPS games than sports, popular movies and TV shows discussed, birthday parties celebrated and bachelor/ette parties thrown, where quizzes about superheroes and boy wizards were being held and many tournaments took place, from Pokemon Go and Overcooked to Mortal Kombat and Tekken.

We became the place where like-minded community came together and thrived. New friendships were being made, new player groups formed, new ideas came to being, new businesses started.

Perhaps even a new romantic relationship or two, we hope, because the Black Cat Caffe is a kind of a place where you could find a soulmate if you were a fan of books, movies, TV series and games in any form imaginable.

We have even hosted one of the biggest LARP conventions in this part of Europe and were getting ready to do so much more.

And then the plague struck.

Just like many other bars, restaurants and alike establishments, our Black Cat Caffe was closed down for business starting March 19. Our revenue stream went to zero virtually overnight. It is uncertain for how long the COVID-19 lockdown will last. Croatian government has floated cautiously June as a possible deadline but it is far from certain.

We can not hold out that long. The Croatian government has issued a relief programme to help business retain employees. It will help us greatly but unfortunately won't be enough to keep our business afloat. We are still looking for any options that will help us survive this crisis and keep our community together.

We are ready to fight tooth and nail but we’re precariously near the end of our rope. The beacons are lit.

We’re asking you, our fellow players and gamers, our geek and nerd brothers and sisters, all of you who feel they belong to this tribe of imagination, creativity and untold wonders, to come to our aid in this time of need.

Please donate as much as you can and help spreading the word. Every little contribution will help. We will appreciate it and remain eternally grateful.

Here’s what we offer in return. Perks are transferable so consider giving them as a gift, too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are you guys?

Oh, right. Yes. Hello! We’re Lucija, Matija, Miroslav and Vatroslav, a team of live action role-playing designers called the Terrible Creations, stationed at Zagreb, Croatia, European Union. Our good friend and one of the Terrible Creations’ co-founders Noel Basa, now a resident of Ireland, has graciously offered help to make this project come alive.

By a peculiar turn of events in 2017 we took over a local dive bar Crni mačak (The Black Cat Caffe) at the Podolje 10 street in Zagreb. Since then, with a lot of love and hard work, we have turned it into a unique haven for people who - just like us - love games, books, TV shows, movies, creativity and playfulness in general.

Why are you doing this?

Because we need help to keep our business going. We are still exploring all possible avenues and will continue to do so but so far we’ve exhausted almost all our own resources and reserves. We have cut all the costs we could but have no revenue stream at this point and won’t have it for the foreseeable future.

We want to keep our essential and invaluable staff and our suppliers, to be able to keep rent and utilities bills. And last but not least - to be ready for you, our friends and customers, once things get back to normal.

How can I help?


You can, of course, choose to pay for any or multiple perks we’re offering with this campaign. Every donation will be greatly appreciated. But it would also help us if you spread word about the campaign in any way you can and invite your friends, relatives and co-workers who can chip in to do so.

And, of course, you are all very welcome to come to the Black Cat Caffe once we’re open for business again, bring your friends and have a bunch of drinks and a good time.


Rewards

We name you a Supreme Pet Lover (With a Penchant for Black Cats) You get a warm thank you from us. If you wish so, we do this publicly on the Black Cat Caffe Facebook and Instagram pages for everyone to see.

9 Backers

You get a warm thank you and a lifetime loyalty card that will grant you a permanent happy hour discount on any beverage we offer, reserved only for our most loyal clients. For every loyalty card you get we will give another one to the medical workers at the nearby hospital at Vinogradska street. If we cover them all, the next up are the Clinic for the Infective Diseases “Dr. Fran Mihaljević” and the children hospital at the Klaićeva street.

46 Backers

Become a Defender of the Black Cat. You get a warm thank you, a lifetime loyalty card and get to choose two of any beverages we offer for free. One for you, one for your favourite relative, lover, best friend, co-worker or just a random person you drag in from the street. You can choose any beverage you want but we do have a wide range of tasty cocktails - alcoholic or virgin - such as Butterbeer, Iron Man, Mana Potion, Qui Gon Gin, Dragon Lady...

47 Backers

Become a Super Hero of the Black Cat. You get a warm thank you, a lifetime loyalty card, and six of any beverages we offer for free. Isn’t that a great way to start a party?

24 Backers

Become an Avenger of the Black Cat. You get a warm thank you, a lifetime loyalty card and a unique T-shirt, specially tailored and manufactured for this occasion.

14 Backers

Become a Patronus of the Black Cat. You get a warm thank you, a lifetime loyalty card, a unique T-shirt, a free drink and a voucher for a free live action role-playing game by the Terrible Creations of your choice for up to 10 participants. And we’ll write your name on the Heroes List on the the Black Cat Caffe’s wall. Please leave a shirt size in the next section.

16 Backers

Become a Benefactor of the Black Cat. You get a warm thank you, a lifetime loyalty card, a unique T-shirt, and 12 of any beverages we offer for free. We will also put your favourite quote from a TV show, movie, book or a video game right beside your name on the wall. Anything fantasy or SF related is acceptable but we have to approve it. We’ll be generously lenient about it, we promise. Please leave a shirt size in the next section.

18 Backers

Become a Party Animal of the Black Cat. You get a warm thank you, a lifetime loyalty card, a unique T-shirt, a voucher for a free live action role-playing game by the Terrible Creations of your choice for up to 10 participants. But! We'll also throw a party to honor you, and you can bring up to 10 friends along for a night with an open bar. And we’ll write your name on the Heroes List on the Black Cat Caffe’s wall. And you get a real hug from each team member (there are four of us) once the pestilence has gone. Please leave a shirt size in the next section.

2 Backers

Fundraising Team

  • Matija Mihokovic
  • Miroslav Wranka
  •  
  • Siro
  • Lucija Tancer Mihokovic
  •  
  • Lucija

Donors

  • Željko Jelovica
  • Donated on May 11, 2020
Amount Hidden
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on May 11, 2020
  • Mijau! Hocemo da se Macak doceka na nozice! Pusa svima, vidimo se na pivi! Nela i Seb :)

Amount Hidden
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on May 11, 2020
  • Nek nam nikad ne ode favorite geek hotspot u gradu!

€20.00
Dec 15

Good News, Everyone!

Update posted by Miroslav Wranka at 02:50 pm

Dear backers,We are ecstatic to announce that the Black Cat is back! We have moved to a new location - Mesnička 12, Zagreb - and are planning to open for business starting from December, 19, 2022.We thank you for your support. Without it, it would be near impossible to do. . . . .

See update
0
Apr 22

Important update!

Update posted by Matija Mihokovic at 08:56 am

[A LONG BUT NECESSARY READ]As promised, we come with more info about The Beacons Are Lit: Help Us Save the Black Cat Caffe Bar crowdfunding campaign.Let us start with thanking you all for your generous support.Money is, of course, important. It will be one of the crucial elements to keep. . . . .

See update
2
Apr 21

Thank you!

Update posted by Matija Mihokovic at 10:00 am

Here you are. In no particular order, just as the GoGetFunding platform has listed your names, along with approximately another 50 people and organizations who chose to remain anonymous.A hundred and seventy backers, all told, at the end of what was - without a shadow of a doubt - the. . . . .

See update
0
Apr 20

WOW, just WOW!

Update posted by Matija Mihokovic at 01:03 pm

We were hoping to reach the goal we set for this campaign in a month. But you wouldn't have any of that nonsense, would you now? :DThe campaign has been fully funded in three hours and 15 minutes! You guys are incredible!We are overwhelmed with gratitude and humbleness for all. . . . .

See update
1

Donors & Comments

248 donors
  • Željko Jelovica
  • Donated on May 11, 2020
Amount Hidden
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on May 11, 2020
  • Mijau! Hocemo da se Macak doceka na nozice! Pusa svima, vidimo se na pivi! Nela i Seb :)

Amount Hidden
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on May 11, 2020
  • Nek nam nikad ne ode favorite geek hotspot u gradu!

€20.00
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on May 11, 2020
€50.00
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on May 11, 2020
  • GL! Velčina majice L, pokupio bih u Mačku.

Amount Hidden
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on May 11, 2020
€100.00
  • Josipa Poduška
  • Donated on May 11, 2020
Amount Hidden
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on May 11, 2020
Amount Hidden
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on May 11, 2020
Amount Hidden
  • Tibor Rogulja
  • Donated on May 11, 2020
  • :)

€35.00
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Followers

80 followers
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€11,056
raised of €4,500.00 goal
245% Funded
248 Donors