Pittsburgh Area Restaurant Breaks Kickstarter Record and Raises $310,000

Here's yet another new restaurant that turned to Kickstarter for funding: Acclaimed Pittsburgh chef Kevin Sousa has shattered his optimistic fundraising goal of $250,000, reaching $310,225 by the time his Kickstarter for his upcoming restaurant Superior Motors closed 12 hours ago. The success of the campaign came late in the game, with Superior Motors entering the weekend some $100,000 short. Pittsburgh City Paper writer Alex Zimmerman reports that Kickstarter has confirmed Superior Motors has set the record as the "most-funded restaurant project to date." After reaching his goal, Sousa wrote "The people of this great city and beyond collectively decided that this idea should happen. I don't understand how it happened the way it did, it was a spectacle to watch and be a part of."

Sousa is a 2012 JBFA semifinalist whose Pittsburgh restaurant mini-empire includes Salt of the Earth, Harvard & Highland, Station Street Food, and Union Pig & Chicken. CBS Pittsburgh reports that Superior Motors is hoping to open sometime next year in one of the abandoned buildings in nearby Braddock, PA. According to the Kickstarter page, Superior Motors will "serve fresh, local and thoughtfully crafted food in a true urban food desert." There are also plans for a rooftop garden and a training program that offers free housing, all with the aim of " Check out the Kickstarter video below for more on Superior Motors:

Video: Superior Motors: Community Restaurant & Farm Ecosystem

· Superior Motors: Community Restaurant & Farm Ecosystem [Kickstarter]
· Crowd Sourced Restaurant Passes Funding Goal [CBS Pittsburgh]
· All Pittsburgh Coverage on Eater [-E-]