The creator/chef/operator of Clayton artisan pizza shop, Katie’s Pizzeria, wants to expand, and is using the fund sourcing website, Kickstarter, to help her raise $40,000. 

Katie Lee’s five-year-old Katie’s Pizzeria has won Best Pizza from Sauce Magazine the past four years in a row. Now she’s adding artisan pasta to the menu and restaurant name. She plans on opening Katie’s Pizza and Pasta, in Rock Hill.

"It’s an artisan theme, the other is artisan pizza. I’m adding artisan pasta," she said.

“We’re going to have an open kitchen design,” Lee said. “There’ll be a wood-fired oven. The different colored pastas will be hanging up drying on display. Diners will see the whole artisan, Italian cooking process while they’re eating,” she said.

Lee doesn’t have a lease signed yet, but said she's been working with a realtor and has a location she likes.

She said she decided to do the Kickstarter because she liked the idea of getting the community involved in opening a restaurant.

“People love to be a part of something,” she said. Lee said she has lots of faithful customers and is expecting big things.

She has 45 days to reach the $40,000 goal. If she falls short her funders pay nothing and she gets nothing, but she’s off to a good start. In less than 24 hours she had 23 backers pledging $1,550. She can go over the goal.

Pledge levels range from $1 up to $10,000, with attractive rewards.

For a $25 pledge you get a complementary dish and drink. For $10,000 you and eight friends will get a five-course dinner including drinks, your name on a supporters wall, and more!

See the Kickstarter page for Lee's new restaurant.