ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
David Shalvoy, owner of Christopher’s Cafe in Lynn, shows off some of the raffle items.
BY BRIDGET TURCOTTE
LYNN — After David Shalvoy spent $28,000 to install a new fire suppression system, his customers came to the rescue.
“There were times I felt like the father of a bride,” said Shalvoy, owner of Christopher’s Cafe on Lewis Street. “Everytime I turned around, I was handing over a credit card.”
His business was closed during the week it took to install the new equipment, he said, costing him another $3,000.
But his loyal customers refused to let him go it alone. Regulars began donating items, from Red Sox tickets to teeth whitening kits, as a way to defray the renovation costs.
“He’s trying to make a living and it’s impossible,” said Carole Moran, an artist who donated a house portrait valued at $300. She said her sister and late brother-in-law visited the cafe three times a week.
Convinced by his customers, Shalvoy is selling tickets to A Night of Giving event at the cafe on May 18 for $50. Bob Bowzer, also known as Pop Disaster, who works as a chef at the cafe, will DJ for the event.
So far, 150 patrons have handed over the cash. Each donor will be served dinner and get a chance to win the donated prizes.
To cover the cost of the fire system, Shalvoy must sell 560 tickets.
If more than the amount needed to cover the costs is raised, the surplus will be donated to Doctors without Borders, an international organization that delivers emergency medical care to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters or exclusion from health care.
The improvements to the cafe include new ventilation in the kitchen and a hood above the stove with a fire sprinkler.
For nearly a decade, the cafe operated without the system. Shalvoy was under the impression it was unnecessary to make the pricey changes since his eatery had been there for so long. But fire inspectors told him last summer that there’s no such thing as being grandfathered in when it comes to state regulations.
Shalvoy waited until November to purchase and install the equipment. He considered not renewing his lease because under the terms of the agreement any work completed on the property belongs to the owner.
“When I got the estimate, I thought for a minute, ‘why bother, it’s only eggs.”
In the days leading up to the event, beginning on Wednesday, May 11, Shalvoy will show appreciation to his customers with a Week of Giving Thanks, giving away treats.
“I was overwhelmed by the amount of people who helped,” Shalvoy said. “It humbled me. In all honesty, the reason why I’m here is because of my customers.”
Bridget Turcotte can be reached at bturcotte@itemlive.com. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte.