Kickstarter campaign, concert to help raise funds for Otto Cakes
KRYSTLE MARCELLUS / KMARCELLUS@STARADVERTISER.COM
Scott Otto McDonough, owner of Otto Cake at his bakery in Kaimuki.
Downtown Honolulu hasn’t been kind recently to punk rock baker Scott “Otto” McDonough, who celebrated 26 years of selling his cheesecake and baked goods under the Otto Cake brand in Honolulu last month.
After shuttering his original Kalihi storefront in 2004, a debilitating back injury kept him from reopening another retail location until 2009. He moved to Smith Street in Chinatown, but was forced to close that location in 2013 after a series of run-ins with drug dealers and drug users that caused him to fear for the safety of himself and his employees.
Media coverage of McDonough’s plight and his move from Smith Street to 12th Avenue in Kaimuki led to a surge in business, and less than two years later he was back in downtown Honolulu with a new space on the ground floor of the Davies Pacific Center. The expansion was meant to be the precursor to another expected boost in sales, since many of Otto’s customers continued to work and live in the area and were eager for him to reopen in the neighborhood.
But just as the busy holiday season was supposed to get underway, disaster struck his downtown operation once again. About a week before Thanksgiving, the sprinkler system in the building malfunctioned, causing thousands of dollars in water damage. A monthlong closure led to a significant loss of revenue and continues to threaten Otto Cake’s overall viability as a business.
“It’s the day I revolve around all year,” McDonough said of the business he generates on Thanksgiving. “I have to make double the money that month so I can pay the rent in January. But I couldn’t take Christmas orders either.
“I knew on Thanksgiving, I was sitting there by myself in Kaimuki and I just knew it was going to be bad. How bad it was, was (the landlord) sent me a bill for the entire time I was closed. They want interest on everything.”
In order to help McDonough catch up with his bills, friends established a Kickstarter fundraising campaign with his blessing to collect $7,000 for the business by 3 p.m. Monday. The goal was reached today, with backers set to receive rewards like fresh-baked brownies, strawberry ginger lemonade, iced coffee and Otto Cake T-shirts. Those who pledge at least $100 will also have their names listed on a perpetual plaque that will be posted in the store; as of today, rewards were still available for pledges of $50 or more.
Even after he gets the Kickstarter money, however, McDonough won’t be out of the woods. After making necessary repairs, missing his January rent payment and scrambling to figure out how to make this month’s rent, he estimated he now needs between $17,000 to $20,000 in total to dig himself out of this hole. Yet he makes no excuses for his shortcomings, stating matter-of-factly that “I can’t read well and don’t know numbers very well, so I’m not the most well-educated person.”
“I was homeless before I started my bakery,” he continued. “I’ve already packed my house up and am ready to do it again. I was already anticipating that (the bakery) was gone. This (fundraiser) is now that last-ditch miracle effort that might save it, but I thought it was gone.”
McDonough seemed almost overwhelmed by the outpouring of support he’s received since the news got out. He’s appreciative of what’s been done so far but also realizes there’s still a lot more assistance needed in order to save his business. Along with financial support, he mentioned needing legal and accounting advice to help address the issues at his downtown store.
Along with the Kickstarter campaign, Otto Cake supporters will have an opportunity to make donations during a fundraiser concert at Downbeat Lounge on Thursday. Let’s Save Otto Cake will feature performances by McDonough’s band 86 List, The Bougies, T.V. Microwave and Even Odders. Doors open at 9 p.m.
For more information about Otto Cake or the fundraiser, call or text McDonough direct at (808) 834-6886 or visit the fundraiser’s Facebook event page and Kickstarter campaign profile.
24 responses to “Kickstarter campaign, concert to help raise funds for Otto Cakes”
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Sue the landlord, et. al I’m surprised Otto cake didn’t have insurance.
That was my first thought. It was the building owner who failed to properly maintain the sprinkler system.
“McDonough” has made a career out of soliciting sympathy. I frequented his store when it was on Smith Street–risking life and limb to buy a good cheesecake. More often, the service was poor and his attitude SUCKED. It is interesting to note that he can afford multiple expensive tattoo’s, but can’t pay his rent(s). It is apparent to me that he is just a lazy-scam-artist and not an entrepreneur. On another related note, “Downbeat Café” is FILTHY and you have to fight the cockroaches to protect your food. “TWELVE-TIMES-BITTEN” THIRTEENTH-TIME–NO WAY; BAD JUU-JUU…
Drug dealers don’t bother me at Honolulu’s Chinatown.
Address to the lounge, please.
Jesus Christ, you’re on the computer so much, you can open another window and GOOGLE IT. crazy balls.
Yeah. Now I have to be nice, otherwise I will be banned again.
Grandpa told me to be like a spider. They never give up on rebuilding the damaged web.
DEFEND OTTO
Otto? First Hawaiian Bank’s ATM machine?
Maybe Otto will reconsider his pricing strategy. It’s really expensive for a “punk rock bakery.” I walked in to the Kaimuki shop looking for a little snack and something to take to a party. One look at the prices and I walked out empty-handed. It’s his business, and if he “can’t read well and don’t know numbers very well” and doesn’t get water damage insurance, maybe he should shut down his bakery. Most businesses who can’t pay their bills do exactly that.
Yeah, I feel for his misfortune, but all the publicity he’s getting over this is a little ridiculous.
People who kick good citizens of our community when they are down are the slime that lives off scum. The higher price Otto charges is more than justified because of the quality of wholesome ingredients he uses and the care he puts into his hand-made goods. Only cheapskates whine about paying $5 a slice or $40 for a ten-inch cheesecake in flavors like lehua honey, strawberry basil, or chocolate nutella that are of Otto’s quality. (By the way, a slice at Cheesecake Factory in Waikiki costs $8-9)
Amen to this. It’s interesting that all the big talkers here couldn’t be bothered to speak up when Otto courageously stood up to the drug dealers by his former location in Chinatown and got seriously hassled & eventually chased away for it. Otto is a great person, his pastries are to die for and worth the splurge if you want something special, and I hope that he successfully overcomes these current challenges.
Plus, if you’re eating cheesecake so often that you’re running out of money, you got bigger problems, like health issues. Otto’s stuff is meant to be eaten as an occasional splurge, not daily fair.
“People who kick good citizens of our community when they are down are the slime that lives off scum.” ellinaskyrt, I think that was a little uncalled for. Take a breath and read the MillionMonkey’s post again – he was just making some observations based on his own experiences and view and what was in the article, even quoting Otto himself.
“I can’t read well and don’t know numbers very well, so I’m not the most well-educated person.”
This guy needs a partner.
That statement kind of says it all. Businesses fail all the time because someone decides they’re good at something and can make some money, but know nothing about running a business. I wish him luck but he’s got to be smarter about doing things, well-educated or not.
Indeed. Hence why the best restaurants are run by a pair of people, one who is charge of the food and the other who manages the business. Helps when the business end has restaurant experience, but this is a straight up division of labor allowing those to specialize. Otto needs someone who can help run the business while he makes the delicious goodies. Just like doctors generally make bad hospital administrators, bakers often make bad bakery managers. Otto needs someone who can look over the numbers and manage the finances.
What he needs is a business partner. Someone who can put up the money and manage the finances.
Bought a sliver of cheesecake when he was on Smith St…….first and last time for me.
Mahalo to all those who are trying to help…
Never trust a skinny Baker. Just kidding. His cheesecakes are really good. It’s unfortunate that he didn’t have insurance to cover the water leak.
The problem is the Davies Pacific location is right next to Ahi Lovers, so whenever you go close to the storefront of Otto’s it smells like fish! I go often to Kaimuki store, but anytime I think to go to downtown store then I’m turned off by the fish smell.
Go there only when we have Southern Kona winds.