Backing Historic Small Restaurants
This year, 50 historic small restaurants across the country will each receive a $50,000 grant.
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Restaurant Enthusiasts
Historic small restaurants—tangible connections to our communities’ histories—face ongoing economic challenges. Submit your favorite spot today to help save it for years to come.
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Restaurant Owners
Owners can apply today for a $50K grant to address their restaurant’s critical needs.
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Now Accepting Submissions
Grant applications and public nominations will be accepted until 11:59 PM ET on May 30, 2025.
Now in its fifth year, American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation are once again supporting 50 small or independently owned restaurants across the country through the Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant program. Each restaurant—all places that contribute to their neighborhood's unique history and identity—will receive $50,000 in funding to help them improve their businesses and positively impact their communities.
Grant applications and public nominations will be accepted until 11:59 PM ET on May 30, 2025.
Since it began, the Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant program has granted nearly $5.7 million to 130 historic restaurants (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) to help restaurants address critical needs amid ongoing economic challenges. This critical financial support helps small restaurant owners better navigate economic challenges, disasters, or other hardships so that their establishments' legacies can continue.
Explore All Grantees
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Have questions? Please check out our Frequently Asked Questions, or email historicrestaurants@savingplaces.org.
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