3 restaurant owners crowdfund to revive 19th century landmark restaurant

Several restaurant owners say they're combining forces with a crowdfunding campaign to revive a landmark 19th century restaurant in downtown Brooklyn.

The Gage & Tollner restaurant originally opened in 1879 and was open for 125 years, later becoming a landmark in the 1970s, according to the owners.

The restaurant was later made into an Arby's, a TGI Friday's, and even a clothing store after it closed in 2004.

"I thought how sort of sad that a landmark beautiful space like this serves quick hamburgers and french fries," says Sohui Kim, chef at The Good Fork and Insa.

The campaign, which has been running since the summer, is currently halfway to its goal of $400,000.

The owners say the goal of the campaign is to restore Gage & Tollner to its former glory.

"When you're in this room you really want oysters on the half shell, a dry martini and then a pork chop or muttonchop," says St. John Frizell, the owner of Fort Defiance.

More information on crowdfunding for Gage & Tollner can be found here.