Bywater, the acclaimed eatery located at 54 State St. in Warren, Rhode Island, announced on Monday the launch of a Mainvest crowdfunding campaign to support the expansion of the restaurant's current space and the re-launch of The Bakeshop.

The fundraising goal is $75,000, and as of March 6, nearly 75% has been raised, per a press release distributed by the restaurant’s PR firm. Mainvest is an online platform aimed at raising money for local small businesses.

"We are thrilled to launch this Mainvest campaign and invite our community to join us in our mission to expand Bywater and create a new, spacious home for The Bakeshop," said Katie Dickson, Owner, Bywater. "With the funds raised, we will share resources and be able to enhance every aspect of what we serve and how we serve it, in both locations.”

Bywater, which opened in the summer of 2015, is known for its menu of locally sourced and seasonally inspired dishes, along with a warm and inviting atmosphere that keeps customers coming back for more. During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Bywater was reduced to takeout-only, Dickson and her team unveiled The Bakeshop, a window-service café pop-up offering sourdough breads, European-style pastries, artisanal roasted coffees, and espresso beverages.

This creative effort, coupled with the reopening of the dining room, where guests enjoy creative dishes from executive chef Luke Mersfelder, Bywater surpassed its pre-COVID-19 sales numbers by nearly 20%.

In September of 2022, Bywater paused The Bakeshop’s operations while seeking to bolster its staff with new hires and to conduct training on a realistic and manageable schedule. Since initiating the pause, Bywater has continued to serve artisanal coffees from different roasters, and fresh breads and more baked to accompany its menu items at Warren’s local culinary incubator Hope & Main’s shared kitchen spaces at 691 Main Street.

With pandemic shutdown protocols eased, and with its dining room open to full capacity, the team at Bywater recognizes the need for more space and a permanent home for The Bakeshop. In January of 2023, Bywater’s Owner Katie Dickson applied for a special use permit to bring The Bakeshop to the historic Carriage Shop / Garner’s Paint Shop, which was built in 1790, located at 277 Water Street in Warren’s Waterfront Historic District.

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