Syr

SYR is a unique little restaurant that was powered by - not one but two - successful crowdfunding campaigns and the efforts of hundreds of dedicated investors. The restaurant opened its doors in 2016 thanks to more than 500 investors and 70 volunteers. In 2015, many newcomers came to the Netherlands, including from Syria. Not long after restaurant SYR was born: A restaurant where people with a refugee background who have an affinity with the hospitality industry worked together with Dutch colleagues. The initiative was a success, even making international headlines with articles in the Guardian, New York Times and Lonely Planet. Restaurant SYR opened its doors for the first time in June 2016. SYR became a successful and bustling restaurant with many supporters and regular guests. Nevertheless, after three years the SYR Foundation decided to look for a new owner for the restaurant. Despite its popularity, restaurant SYR had slowly stagnated in its growth. It was time for SYR to take the step from foundation to fully-fledged business. At the end of 2019, a second crowdfunding campaign was launched for SYR. This time led by Team SYR (the employees of SYR) in collaboration with Gijs Werschkull (owner of restaurant GYS) who was closely involved in the founding of SYR in 2016. The second crowdfunding campaign was as successful as the first thanks to the support of hundreds of involved investors. In April 2020 SYR became a fully-fledged business at the height of the Corona crisis. Team SYR used this period to their advantage the best way they knew how; with amazing food. During this period team SYR developed a new food concept for SYR and started a new apprenticeship program. SYR opened its doors again on June 2, 2020. Now Everyone is welcome to come and taste the new SYR.