"The support I received to keep the restaurant going was overwhelming, and I now have the opportunity to relocate to Deep Ellum and get open again pretty quickly," Caldwell said via email. "I’m doing it all pretty grassroots, and I literally just launched a Kickstarter campaign this morning to help fund the project." The new location is appropriate: 2901 Elm St., the space that formerly housed Twenty Seven. That short-lived restaurant was a project from chef David Anthony Temple, who had been known for his pop-up restaurants. He ran Twenty Seven for a little over a year before shuttering the restaurant and going back to underground dinners.
Kitchen LTO's concept was ambitious: Every few months, the restaurant swapped out chefs to give the restaurant an entirely new concept and menu. A visual artist was also featured every time the restaurant changed concepts. The new space, which is smaller than its Trinity Groves location, will continue to feature local artists. From a press release:
“It’s smaller, more intimate and will allow the chefs’ craft and artists’ work to shine.” Caldwell will collaborate with design studio owner Ellie Visconti, www.elliev.com, who will bring more emphasis to the artists through “Gallery LTO.” Ellie is a 15-year veteran of the Dallas design and art scene, most recently as a creative director for Pettigrew Luxury Furnishings. She is passionate about creativity and about supporting local artists and their craft. “I am excited to be working with Kitchen LTO because much like a gallery, it will be a space where the art can truly shine."As of noon, Kitchen LTO's Kickstarter has raised just shy of $3,000 of its $50,000 goal. "The fundraising goal of $50k won’t completely fund the venture, but it will make it possible," according to the press release. Every dime goes to location; build out, equipment, staff and startup food costs."
What happens if Kitchen LTO doesn't hit Caldwell's $50,000 fundraising goal? "I’m pretty resilient so, we would just find another way," she says.
"There’s too much chef and artist talent here in Dallas that want the chance to showcase their stuff and I want to keep that going," Caldwell says. "After all, that’s how Pink Magnolia happened."
