DC restaurants (and a Baltimore one) get Historic Small Restaurant grants

So far, about 20 restaurants have signed on to donate a portion of the profits they earn during inauguration weekend to charity.(Thinkstock)

American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation have awarded a total of $1 million to 25 U.S. historic and independent restaurants. The list includes two in the Washington area, and one in Baltimore.

This is the second year for the Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant program. Receiving grants this year locally are:

  • China King’s Restaurant in historic downtown Leesburg, which opened in 1972.
  • Mr. Henry’s in D.C.’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, which opened as a country-western bar in 1966.
  • Max’s Taphouse on the Fells Point waterfront in Baltimore has been family owned and operated since 1986.

Each of the 25 restaurants receives a $40,000 grant that can be used to improve the restaurant’s space, cover operating costs and grow their business.



“These establishments have served their communities for decades, and they represent a diverse collection of cuisines and cultures that are integral to the fabric of their neighborhoods, ” said Madge Thomas, president of the American Express Foundation.

The grants are part of American Express’ Backing Small initiative that provides small businesses with financial support and other resources.

A list of all 25 historic restaurants receiving grants is online.

Jeff Clabaugh

Jeff Clabaugh has spent 20 years covering the Washington region's economy and financial markets for WTOP as part of a partnership with the Washington Business Journal, and officially joined the WTOP newsroom staff in January 2016.

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up