EatGR launches Indiegogo campaign for app and improved website

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.--Following explosive growth over the past year, EatGR has launched an Indiegogo campaign to fund an improved website and app that will help users find new restaurants around town.

“We have more than 11,000 members in our Facebook group, and from the beginning, people have been asking for an app,” said founder Chris Freeman. “Over the past six months we have built out our website and seen increasing support from local restaurants. We felt it was the right time to ask our community to contribute to this next stage of growth.”

The mission of EatGR is to promote locally owned restaurants that are often overlooked. This is done by encouraging people to post photos of their meals in the Facebook group; “best of” lists and feature stories on the website eatgr.com; monthly meetups; and soon, an app on iOS and Android that will feature the ability to search for specific categories of restaurants nearby.

Finding new restaurants is one of the key benefits of being part of EatGR.

“I am a huge proponent of supporting local business (it's what I do for a living) and I love how EatGR gets the word out about non-chain restaurants, bakeries, etc. that I and everyone else may have otherwise missed. I've never been steered wrong by the group,” said Missy McCall.

“I love EatGR because any time I have a GR food-related question, the members of EatGR steer me in the right direction!” added Claire Breen. “Maru, Brewery Vivant (burger!) and Tacos el Cunado have been favorites found via the Facebook page.”

Restaurant owners say that EatGR has driven a lot of traffic.

“The response has been outstanding,” said Clarence Kelly, owner of Emma Lynn’s Chicken and Waffles. “We have had plenty of people come in who heard about us from EatGR.”

“We ask every customer how they heard about us, since it’s a brand new store,” said Anthony Torres, owner of Fresh Coast Kitchen. “I’d say easily 70% of our customers heard about us from EatGR.”

Freeman and business partner Wendy Hammond are hoping to raise $15,000 through the Indiegogo campaign, which will enable them to complete a website upgrade, develop the app, and provide capital for special events planned for the upcoming year.

For more information visit the campaign website.