SHELBURNE FALLS — With the expansion project he has in the works, Mocha Maya’s owner Chris King hopes to fill a void he sees in the village: entertainment.

“This place has become a second home” for many, King said of his 18-year-old Bridge Street business. “People are looking for more community and entertainment.”

With this need in mind, Mocha Maya’s has launched a capital campaign to raise $20,000. When this goal is reached, the business will secure a $40,000 MassDevelopment grant. The $60,000 total will be used to create a music venue, restaurant and bar using the space next to Mocha Maya’s, with renovations to include a new kitchen and bathroom, flooring, a sound and video system, and lighting.

“This is a huge opportunity,” King said. With MassDevelopment providing $2 for every $1 raised through the campaign, he added, “It is rare to match at twice the amount.”

Before the pandemic, Mocha Maya’s was known for hosting multiple music events each week. King estimates more than 1,500 shows took place in the establishment.

“We had a good reputation that was all put on hold,” he said, noting that the business secured musicians who had won Grammy Awards and performed at Madison Square Garden.

King has long had a goal of expanding Mocha Maya’s into the retail space next door — a move that would more than double its size — and began leasing the space a year before the pandemic began.

“We started working on the space but put it on hold,” he said. “It made no sense to be putting money into a restaurant no one could go into.”

According to Mocha Maya’s crowdfunding website, the space “needed to be totally gutted and renovated from its prior condition, and is approximately 25% complete.” Some structural and fire safety issues were resolved to bring the building up to code, some painting was completed, the ceiling was raised to create a more open feel and work on adding a stage began.

As the expansion project moves forward again, King said his business may help fill a void that was left by other area restaurants that have closed, but that was not his intention. He noted that village businesses anticipate having a difficult time next year while the Bridge of Flowers is closed for repairs, so attracting people to the village for entertainment may prove helpful.

Once open, the restaurant will serve familiar, healthy fare that King said customers won’t feel guilty about eating. As for entertainment, the space will host everything from music and poetry readings to movie screenings and theater performances.

“It will be pretty much unlike anything around the valley,” King said, emphasizing that this space is for the community. “It will be really cool.”

King said his project has already gained a tremendous amount of community support. Mocha Maya’s has been open for 18 years and has served nearly 3 million customers in that time.

“We have steady customers here every day,” he said.

For the past two years, King said, those customers have been begging for him to bring music back to the cafe.

Mocha Maya’s hopes to reach its $20,000 fundraising goal by Nov. 6. Donations can be made at bit.ly/464LJbb. As of Thursday afternoon, 23 donors had contributed $3,980 toward the goal.

“This is really for the community,” King reiterated. “If people want music, theater, poetry, entertainment, art and a social gathering space that will be inspiring, donate now to make it happen.”

Alternatively, checks can be mailed to Mocha Maya’s, 47 Bridge St., Shelburne Falls, MA 01370. Cash donations are also accepted at the business.

Bella Levavi can be reached at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com.