Shuckin’ Shack’s Recent and Uncooked Tour Doubles as Most cancers Analysis Fundraiser | Franchise Information

Oyster bar franchise Shuckin’ Shack is as soon as once more bringing tunes with a twist to its Recent and Uncooked Tour, an occasion sequence hosted by the restaurant model with gross sales supporting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This yr’s objective? Increase $75,000. 

“I consider in true customer support,” mentioned Jonathan Weathington, CEO of Wilmington, North Carolina-based Shuckin’ Shack. “When individuals dine, I consider they’re in search of an expertise and don’t give a shit about tablets or screens.”

The Recent and Uncooked Tour, which started September 13 and runs by means of October 3, is an evolution of the reside music occasions usually hosted at Shuckin’ Shack eating places. What began as a advertising and marketing thought for the model become a music tour with a philanthropic focus due to co-founder Matt Piccinin. As somebody dwelling with continual myelogenous leukemia, Piccinin already had a connection to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The group’s funding of analysis through the years has in flip helped Piccinin to reside his life as ordinarily as potential. 

“Leukemia is mainly blood most cancers, you’ll be able to’t eliminate it,” mentioned Piccinin. “I can’t go into remission. I do take chemo capsules every day, so for me with the ability to give again for what has been the group that helped all the analysis to remedy leukemia means rather a lot.”

That analysis turned what was “a dying sentence” 20 years in the past into one thing Piccinin can reside with, he mentioned. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society doesn’t solely fund analysis targeted on blood cancers, but additionally different types of most cancers as nicely. 

The primary Recent and Uncooked Tour, held in 2022, grew out of Weathington’s want to convey greater musical acts and up-and-coming artists into the efficiency fold at Shuckin’ Shack’s eating places, of which there at the moment are 19. “We put collectively the whole tour in a few seven-week interval,” mentioned Weathington of final yr’s sequence. “Our objective is, excuse my language, simply [expletive] do it.”

The tour raised about $52,000 final yr, additionally benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This yr’s tour—which is hitting 16 areas all through North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Maryland and Illinois—options performances from “The Voice” season 9 contestant Barrett Barber and singer-songwriter Taylor Goyette, whose movies have drawn greater than 20 million views on social media.

Associated: Shuckin’ Shack Retains Native Really feel as It Strikes Inland

The day the Recent and Uncooked Tour involves a restaurant, that location doesn’t “make a dime,” Weathington mentioned. As an alternative, all cash made that night time goes to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and prospects are additionally invited to make donations. Those that can’t attend a present can nonetheless donate directly to the LSS.  

“We’re within the trade as a result of we like giving individuals a great time and good meals,” mentioned Weathington. “I misplaced my very own dad to most cancers, and any analysis to me is sweet analysis, and we wish to push that ahead.”