By Theresachristine Etim

Much can be said about the phrase “best burger between San Antonio and Austin.” 

The phrase, while perhaps bold, was used by a reviewer on the website Trip Adviser to describe Bailey’s Burgers in Kyle. 

With an average of four to five out of five stars on multiple review sites, it seemed others seconded that opinion about the burger joint. 

But struggles, primarily with location, have kept the business closed since April. For the owners, use of crowdfunding websites may play a vital role in reopening the popular restaurant.  

Bailey’s Burgers originally launched in 2011 and was located near Kyle’s Central Texas Speedway. The business, however, changed ownership after the first month of the grand opening. 

Mia Hendricks, current co-owner of Bailey’s Burgers, bought the company from a friend who was owner at the time. As she took on co-ownership, Hendricks said she saw it as a step in the right direction.

“We have always wanted to be in the food industry,” Hendricks said.  “This was the perfect opportunity.”

But the beloved burger joint closed its doors in spring 2015. The reason was due to issues with location.

April 10 marked the final day of business for Bailey’s at CTS. The business’ Facebook page waved goodbye to customers and the staff at Central Texas Speedway, the racetrack Bailey’s had grown close to. 

Hendricks said Bailey’s didn’t intend to close, but rather relocate in the following weeks. 

“We were actually only supposed to be closed a couple of months while we relocated,” Hendricks said. “Unfortunately the location we had planned on moving to didn’t work out.”

The setback wasn’t Bailey’s Burger’s swan song. 

Bailey’s has been able to stay on its customers’ radar over the past six months. The business continues to make appearances around Kyle, making burgers at city and charitable events. Hendricks herself is also the founder of Hope & Love 4 Kids, a non-profit organization that helps families in need.

Kickstarter and Indigogo are two of many online crowdfunding websites. The websites, which are popular with non-profits and charitable organizations, are utilized to raise funds for specific causes or goals. 

Hendricks said the sites do allow businesses to use accounts. Those accounts can be used for business and creative projects. According to Hendricks, crowdfunding websites are for businesses in need of funding, like Bailey’s Burgers, 

She hopes to reopen Bailey’s. She also said her business opted to go with Indigogo instead of Kickstarter because it gave them more time to raise funds.

“We went with Indigogo over Kickstarter because with Kickstarter, it is all or nothing. You either hit your goal and get the money or you get nothing,” Hendricks said. 

She added that the site not only allows them to raise money, but that a “cool thing” about the site is that there’s a “perk” for its backers. 

Bailey’s is seeking to raise $6,500. They have thus far gathered six percent of their goal. 

Incurring debt in the form of loans wasn’t something the business wanted to do. 

“For us it didn’t make sense to start a business already in the red by pulling out loans,” Hendricks said. 

Despite what still needs to be accomplished, Hendricks remains hopeful of reopening sometime before the New Year. She plans to do so as a mobile eatery. 

She aims to have a soft opening by the first week of December, if things go according to plan. It’s something Hendricks said she’s sure of.

“The future look delicious,” Hendricks said.