N.J. native trying to start a pop-up restaurant for the homeless

Jason Pinardo is pulling out all the stops for one night only.

PHILADELPHIA -- Jason Pinardo wants to raise $20,000 in 20 days. It took all of two days for him to get about $2,000 shy of half his total goal.

Jason Pinardo, who grew up in Gloucester Township and now lives in South Philadelphia, wants to host a pop-up dinner for 150 homeless Philadelphians. (photo provided) 

And what's all this money going toward? On Feb. 20, Pinardo wants to open an impromptu "pop-up" restaurant catering to 150 homeless people in Philadelphia for one night only.

"What means the most to me is having friends, family and good food," Pinardo, who grew up in Gloucester Township native and later moved back to his native South Philly, said Wednesday morning.

For the unacquainted, a "pop-up" eatery is a limited time outlet open to the public often in an open-air setting. The city sees a number of similar sites each summer where revelers can swap the bar stools for picnic tables.

"It's taking a space that's not normally a restaurant or venue and for a moment in time, bringing people together," Pinardo said when asked to describe a pop-up.

But serving just homeless people? Pinardo, a local entrepreneur, said he heard about a similar effort in Atlanta, Georgia that was carried out under a bridge there.

On the other end of the spectrum, Pinardo cited Diner en Blanc -- where guests in the most formal of attire are given the location of the "chic picnic" at the last minute -- as another influence.

Per a GoFundMe page that's drawn the support of more than 160 people as of Wednesday morning, Pinardo lays out the budget like this: $750 for liability insurance; $6,000 for food -- 150 guests at $40 per person; $450 for decorations; $500 for the site rental fee; $300 for a deejay and entertainment; $7,500 for 150 winter coats at a wholesale price of $50 each; $3,000 for 150 $20 Visa gift cards and $1,500 for 150 small toiletry bags.

So far, Pinardo has been in touch with the owner of Pat's King of Steak, Cescaphe Event Group, a chef at a local assisted care facility and has reached out to the Dollar Shave Club. He's meeting with a number of city homeless shelters to see about a venue and spreading the word to those who stay there.

"I genuinely believe that this night will change someone's life. I know 149 people are going to walk away from this event full, warm and happy. But I also believe that one person will walk away from this night with a newfound sense of hope," he wrote on the fundraiser page. "And maybe, just maybe that hope will build and allow this person to take the first step to getting back on their feet."

If all goes well, Pinardo hopes to pop up other eateries for the city's homeless two to four times each year.

"Forty-eight hours ago this was an idea," he said. "We've raised $8,500 in 36 hours ... I'm speechless. All I'm trying to do is keep up with everyone else's enthusiasm."