By Kathy Chouteau
A group of Richmond businesses along the San Pablo Avenue corridor is revving up to launch a fundraiser to benefit the “East Brother Lighthouse Fund.” Starting Tuesday, June 1, The Factory Bar, Catahoula Coffee and Tacos El Tucan will be selling lighthouse-themed items onsite at their businesses and online, with all proceeds going to the fund.
As the Standard previously reported, a GoFundMe campaign is underway for the East Brother Light Station to restore power to the 147-year-old island lighthouse and bed & breakfast following the devastating failure of its underwater power cable April 1, 2021. Launched by Light Station Keeper Desiree Heveroh, the online effort aims to raise $150,000 to repower the Light Station by repairing the cable or by other means since its owner, the U.S. Coast Guard, is unable to do so. That fundraiser to date has raised just over $80,000 of its $150,000 goal.
“We are so excited to be able to help the East Brother Lighthouse in any way we can as local small businesses,” Proprietor Tom Lyons of The Factory told the Standard. “We are talking to other businesses on the Ave. and created a San Pablo Ave Business Association just for the promotion.”
According to Lyons, the array of items up for sale to benefit the Light Station fund include: Foghorn Blend coffee, T-shirts, special pint glasses, stickers and a custom cocktail created especially for this fundraiser called “The Lighthouse.”
At this time, an end date for the promotion hasn’t been set, but Lyons estimates that it will perhaps run through the summer or until supplies run out.
