Karyn's Sends Hospital Photos And Detox Promo To Customers After Car Crash
By Anthony Todd in Food on Feb 24, 2016 3:18PM
Karyn's day spa
Remember how Karyn Calabrese, of Karyn's Raw fame, announced that she was trying to raise funds to keep her restaurant open at the same time that she was being sued, while facing accusations of fraud from ex-employees? Well, things have taken an even stranger turn.
Karyn's latest e-newsletter came out on Monday (Eater tipped us off) and it's a bit strange. Apparently (and sadly) Karyn was in a car accident in January, and the newsletter leads with photos of her bruised in a hospital bed and the headline "Karyn is Alive" ... right before offering a discount on detox classes.
The newsletter also has the usual detox-related testimonials (including someone who claims to have increased "immune function" from her program) and ads for classes and seminars.
Commenters on Facebook thought this was odd. They wrote things like: "Karyn's almost dead. Oh and by the way, detox classes on special! This feels super weird and out of place," "Something is very off about this announcement!!!!" and "This is a pretty bizarre promotion. I wish her well but this has left a bad taste in my mouth," as well as more comments from former employees with gripes.
Setting aside the strangeness, Karyn's is still trying to raise money to make up for business struggles that could send the Lincoln Park restaurant under.The GoFundMe has raised a little over $7,000 (of a $300,000) goal. The restaurant was apparently also robbed in January by a former employee. So things are not going well in her world.