Locals have donated more than $40,000 to a Bushwick bar that suffered a devastating fire last month.
The fire broke out in the backyard of Bunton’s World Famous on Broadway on the night of Sept. 23, and incinerated the garden, awning and air conditioning units. Although everyone was able to exit safely, owner Kareem Bunton said the building is severely damaged.
“For those of you who know me I am one of those annoying stubborn ornery types who hates to ask for anything, ever,” he said in an Instagram post the day after the fire. “But this time I really need it.”
Bunton created a GoFundMe for donations with a goal of $150,000 to help rebuild. As of Oct. 7, the fundraiser had raised almost a third of Bunton’s goal, with over 400 individual donors.
“Our team is working tirelessly to assess the damage, but the costs of rebuilding are significant, even with insurance,” Bunton wrote in the GoFundMe. “That’s why we’re asking for your support. If Bunton’s has ever been your home base, your go-to spot, or a place that brought you joy, acceptance, or belonging — please consider donating.”
Bunton’s World Famous has been an eclectic music hub for Brooklyn residents since its founding in 2018. Bunton, a retired soul musician himself, had also spent a decade managing New York City bars. With Bunton’s World Famous, he wanted to bring back ‘90s nostalgia in a 21st century setting.
When the pandemic hit in 2020, the bar also started a GoFundMe to stay afloat. It raised over $12,000.
“Thank you for helping us build a space where people come for community, refuge, and acceptance—a place for connection, celebration, and self-expression,” Bunton wrote. “We survived a global pandemic together, and we will survive this. We’re down, but we’re not out.”
The bar remains temporarily closed during rebuilding.
