For my final project, I would like to do a feature on some of the key people who are currently working at Roberta’s in Brooklyn and who have been there since the beginnings of the restaurant. With the success of Roberta’s, the Bushwick/Morgantown neighborhood that was well-known for decades as a place to stay away from became a destination, and then a less and less edgily-cool place to settle in to.

While several major media outlets have given notice to Roberta’s for various reasons (the NY Times food columnist for his love of the burgers there, GQ magazine for their weed-infused tasting menu at the private dining area hidden in the back yard known as Blanca, or the upcoming, yet-to-be-released restaurant feature on the hit TV show, Girls, which used the Roberta’s dining room to shoot one of the scenes in the season finale that will air later this year), I feel like the one aspect of the restaurant that hasn’t been given any attention–by the American media, in any case–is probably the important part: The people.

I, as someone who has worked there for about a year and a half off and on, have come to realize that the thing that drives Roberta’s to success is the unique combination of people that work there and the unique social standards that exist for the employees. So I want to feature that. I think that many businesses and communities could be inspired by the story of the little restaurant full of misfit toys that could.

So far, I have spoken with a handful of individuals who have been around since the beginning, as well as a few who came along later, and all are interested in being a part of this project. Since everyone who works there is an artist and a musician, I am sure I will have some great multi-media to work with as well.