Photo courtesy of Karen P.
The Capitol Hill community came together on Friday, July 15 to raise over $30,000 to support Tune Inn Restaurant and Bar employees temporarily out of work after a fire destroyed the kitchen of the legendary establishment. Nearly 700 individuals came to the event to show their support for the Tune Inn and its staff by bidding on silent auction items, participating in raffles and purchasing Tune Inn memorabilia. Over 40 local businesses, primarily located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, generously donated food and auction or raffle items while local musicians from 4 bands entertained the crowd with a mix of classic rock, country and pop funk.
Included in the silent auction was the chance to have one of the booths at the Tune Inn named after the winner. The largest booth, known as the party booth or the lounge, was auctioned for $2,200 and was won by a group called The St. Patrick’s Day Crew. The St. Patrick’s Day Crew has attended the Tune Inn on St. Patrick’s Day every year since 1981. The other seven booths went on average for $950 in the auction. Smaller plaques to be installed in the bar were available for sale for $150. The remaining limited edition plaques are available for $150 donations through this website.
While the fundraiser exceeded its goal of $25,000, an additional $20,000 will have to be raised to meet the estimated $50,000 needed to support the staff during the three months the bar is expected to be closed. Those who were unable to attend the event can still donate through this website.
