BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. – Hey, Berkeley County restaurant owners — if your place has some age on it and a story to tell, this one’s for you. The Backing Historic Small Restaurants (BHSR) grant program is back, and it’s dishing out $2.5 million to 50 beloved local spots across the United States.
That’s $50,000 per restaurant to help you preserve your history, update your space, and keep those Lowcountry flavors alive for generations to come.
Now in its fifth year, this program is a collaboration between the National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express, aimed at supporting independent restaurants that have weathered tough times.
“American Express is proud to back local champions who strengthen their communities, and that includes many small and independent restaurants,” said Madge Thomas, Head of Corporate Sustainability and President, American Express Foundation. “Food brings people together and builds community. We aim to offer restaurants the support they need to expand, innovate, update their spaces, and improve operations, so they continue to grow and bring vitality to neighborhoods across the U.S and around the world.”
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“American Express is an invaluable partner to the National Trust as together we work to strengthen neighborhoods across the country by supporting these small businesses that bring people together,” said Carol Quillen, President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The program has already provided over $5 million over the past four years to 130 restaurant owners in all 50 states, who have been impacted by economic hardship or disasters.
This initiative is part of America Express’ larger “Backing Small” grants program which includes its Backing International Small Restaurants program, also launching Monday, May 12. Together, the “Backing Small” restaurant grant programs will provide $3.95 million in funding and other resources in 2025 to restaurants around the world.
Grantees from past years say the funding helped them make much-needed infrastructure changes. Stephen Reeve, a 2024 Backing Historic Small Restaurants winner, runs New York Café in Ketchikan, Alaska — the state’s longest operating restaurant, which adventurer Tony Ohashi built more than 120 years ago. The grant helped Stephen restore key elements of the building façade and better document the café’s history with historic signage. “We want to honor the families that created the New York Café and much more of the surrounding historic Stedman-Thomas neighborhood,” Reeve said.
Whether you’re running a soul food spot in Moncks Corner, a shrimp shack in Goose Creek, or a barbecue joint in Summerville, if your business has a historical angle — and you’re helping bring the community together, you could be a strong candidate.
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Applications are open now through May 30, and it’s a quick process. Restaurant owners can apply for the grant program here. Got a favorite mom-and-pop place in town? Community members can also nominate their favorite restaurant here.
