American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation Announce 2025 Grantees of Backing Historic Small Restaurants

Rhea-AI Summary

American Express (NYSE:AXP) and the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced the 2025 class of Backing Historic Small Restaurants grantees. 50 historic restaurants across the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands will each receive $50,000 grants for renovation and growth, plus one year of complimentary ResyOS service from Resy.

The program, launched in 2020, has awarded over $8 million to 180 restaurants across all U.S. states and territories. Additionally, American Express's international restaurant initiative is expanding to France, Spain, and New Zealand in 2025, aiming to provide $1.45 million to 100 restaurants globally. Combined, both programs plan to distribute nearly $4 million in funding to 150 restaurants worldwide in 2025.

Positive

• Program has awarded over $8 million to 180 restaurants since 2020
• Each grantee receives substantial $50,000 grant plus one year of free ResyOS service
• International expansion of restaurant support program to France, Spain, and New Zealand
• American Express serves over 27,000 restaurants through Resy and Tock platforms

Negative

• None.

Insights

Corporate Social Responsibility Analyst

AmEx's $2.5M grant program for 50 historic restaurants demonstrates sustained commitment to small business preservation across America.

American Express's Backing Historic Small Restaurants program has reached a significant milestone, marking five years of supporting culinary landmarks across the United States. The 2025 class includes 50 restaurants receiving $50,000 grants each, bringing the program's total investment to more than $8 million across 180 restaurants since its 2020 launch.

This initiative reflects a strategic evolution from pandemic emergency response to a sustained community investment program. Beyond the immediate financial impact of $2.5 million in grants this year, AmEx is providing additional value through waived fees for Resy's restaurant management software, creating a comprehensive support package that addresses both immediate renovation needs and operational efficiency.

The program demonstrates exceptional geographic inclusivity, reaching establishments in all 50 states plus Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. This nationwide approach ensures cultural preservation across diverse communities, supporting restaurants that serve as social anchors and intergenerational connection points.

This program fits within AmEx's broader small business support ecosystem, complementing the international restaurant grant initiative that's expanding to France, Spain, and New Zealand, and the well-established Shop Small and Small Business Saturday movements. Together, these programs will provide nearly $4 million to 150 restaurants globally in 2025 alone.

The testimonial from Bombay Mahal illustrates the multiplier effect of these grants - enabling not just physical improvements but creating capacity for innovation and growth into new business lines. By focusing on historic establishments that often face sustainability challenges despite cultural significance, AmEx is addressing a critical preservation need while strengthening its position in the restaurant services market through Resy and Tock, which serve over 27,000 restaurants across the U.S.

Celebrating Five Years of Backing Historic Small Restaurants with More than $8 Million Awarded to 180 Small Restaurants to Date

NEW YORK, Aug. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation today announced the 2025 class of grantees of the Backing Historic Small Restaurants program, marking five years of celebrating investing in small, independent restaurants that serve as cultural and culinary landmarks across the U.S.

This year, 50 beloved restaurants across the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands will each receive a $50,000 grant to help renovate and grow their businesses. In addition to funding, Resy, an American Express company, will waive one year of service fees for each grantee to its restaurant management software, ResyOS. 

"What started as a pandemic response has grown into a movement to uplift the historic restaurants that shape our neighborhoods and connect generations through food," said Madge Thomas, Head of Corporate Sustainability at American Express. "Our 2025 grantees reflect the deep-rooted food traditions that define American communities, and we hope these grants spark ripple effects that sustain them in the future."

"These restaurants demonstrate the power that places hold. For generations, neighbors have gathered here, shared stories, made new connections, and enjoyed regional cuisine that often reflects our nation's global roots," said Carol Quillen, President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "We're grateful and proud to join with American Express to help ensure that these meaningful places thrive and continue to serve as vibrant, welcoming spaces for years to come."

Many of the grantees are family-owned and have served their communities for generations. Van Sharma, whose family owns Bombay Mahal in Brunswick, Maine, shared how a 2024 grant helped them expand: "The American Express grant allowed our longstanding restaurant to make a massive transformation inside and out. It also was the space which helped us launch a now national Indian beer company. It's amazing to see how what our parents created has been able to benefit from this tremendous investment for the next generation."

Since launching in 2020, Backing Historic Small Restaurants has since awarded more than $8 million to 180 restaurants in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. From Sylvia's in Harlem to a century-old German beer garden in Milwaukee, these grants have helped restaurants restore, expand, hire, and innovate—ensuring they remain vibrant parts of their communities.

This initiative is part of American Express's broader Backing Small Businesses grant programs, which also includes the Backing International Small Restaurants initiative. Now in its fourth year, Backing International Small Restaurants has expanded to France, Spain, and New Zealand in 2025, and is aiming to award $1.45 million to 100 restaurants globally. Together with Backing Historic Small Restaurants, these two programs are planning to provide nearly $4 million in funding and resources to 150 restaurants around the world this year alone.

American Express is committed to supporting small businesses and is the proud founder of Shop Small and the Small Business Saturday® movement, which is now in its 16^th year. This commitment extends into the dining industry through American Express-owned platforms like Resy and Tock, which serve over 27,000 restaurants and hospitality venues across the U.S.

Learn more about the valuable ways American Express helps restaurant owners run and grow their businesses here. For more on the 2025 Backing Historic Small Restaurants grantees, visit savingplaces.org/historicrestaurants.

2025 AMERICAN EXPRESS BACKING HISTORIC SMALL RESTAURANTS GRANTEES (In alphabetical order):

1.     Al's Restaurant, St. Louis, MO 2.     Anita Street Market, Tucson, AZ 3.     Bertha's Kitchen, Charleston, SC 4.     Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery, Milwaukee, WI 5.     Black Bass Hotel, Lumberville, PA 6.     Bluenose Gopher Public House, Granite Falls, MN 7.     Casa Adela Restaurant, New York, NY 8.     Casales Halfway Club, Reno, NV 9.     Community Grocery, Woodville, MS 10.  Corner Kitchen, Asheville, NC 11.  Corner Station Deli, Fairview, UT 12.  Drew's Place Restaurant and Catering, Fort Worth, TX 13.  Dupuy's Seafood and Steak, Abbeville, LA 14.  El Paseo Inn, Los Angeles, CA 15.  Florence's Restaurant, Oklahoma City, OK 16.  Goodies Frozen Custard & Treats, Alexandria, VA 17.  Haring's Noank, Noank, CT 18.  Hillsboro General Store Cafe', Hillsboro, NM 19.  Ike's Chili, Tulsa, OK 20.  Kimball House, Decatur, GA 21.  Later Alligator, Wheeling, WV 22.  Lavalettes at Hotel 1829, St. Thomas, VI 23.  Locals Food Hub & Pizza Pub, Louisville, KY 24.  Lorene's Fish House, St. Petersburg, FL 25.  Manory's Restaurant, Troy, NY

26.  Mee Heng Low Noodle House, San Luis Obispo, CA 27.  New Delhi Restaurant, San Francisco, CA 28.  One Shot Charlies, Harrison, ID 29.  Pheasant Restaurant & Lounge, Brookings, SD 30.  Poppy Cafe & Market, Burlington, VT 31.  Qusqo Bistro & Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 32.  Restaurant Barrachina, San Juan, PR 33.  Reynolds Tavern and 1747 Pub, Annapolis, MD 34.  Snappers Key Largo, Key Largo, FL 35.  South Side Soda Shop, Goshen, IN 36.  Spotted Horse Bar and Grill, Arvada, WY 37.  Svea, Chicago, IL 38.  The Antique Sandwich Company, Tacoma, WA 39.  The Barn - Route 66, Newberry Springs, CA 40.  The Bull Run Restaurant, Shirley, MA 41.  The Famous Chicken Hut, Durham, NC 42.  The Florentine Hotel, Germantown, OH 43.  The Rock Cafe, Stroud, OK 44.  The Summit Diner, Summit, NJ 45.  The Trolley Stop Restaurant, Ellicott City, MD 46.  The Vasquez 1935, Uvalde, TX 47.  The Wandering Goose, Tokeland, WA 48.  Vault & Cellar, Middletown, VA 49.  Wok Wok Southeast Asian Kitchen, New York, NY 50.  Zadie's Market, Marshall, NC

ABOUT AMERICAN EXPRESS
American Express (NYSE: AXP) is a global payments and premium lifestyle brand powered by technology. Our colleagues around the world back our customers with differentiated products, services and experiences that enrich lives and build business success.

Founded in 1850 and headquartered in New York, American Express' brand is built on trust, security, and service, and a rich history of delivering innovation and Membership value for our customers. With over a hundred million merchant locations across our global network, we seek to provide the world's best customer experience every day to a broad range of consumers, small and medium-sized businesses, and large corporations.

For more information about American Express, visit americanexpress.com, americanexpress.com/en-us/newsroom/, and ir.americanexpress.com.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a privately-funded nonprofit organization dedicated to helping communities maintain and enhance the power of historic places. Chartered by Congress in 1949 and supported by partners, friends, and champions nationwide, we help preserve the places and stories that make communities unique. Through the stewardship and revitalization of historic sites, we help communities foster economic growth, create healthier environments, and build a stronger, shared sense of belonging. SavingPlaces.org | @savingplaces

American Express
Jessica Defilippo
jessica.n.defilippo@aexp.com

National Trust for Historic Preservation 
Elliot Carter
ecarter@savingplaces.org

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SOURCE American Express

FAQ

How much is American Express investing in historic restaurants in 2025?

American Express is providing $2.5 million in grants ($50,000 each to 50 restaurants) through the Backing Historic Small Restaurants program, plus additional support through free ResyOS service.

How many restaurants has American Express's historic restaurant program supported since 2020?

The program has awarded over $8 million to 180 restaurants across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands since 2020.

Which countries will American Express expand its International Small Restaurants program to in 2025?

In 2025, the program is expanding to France, Spain, and New Zealand, with plans to award $1.45 million to 100 restaurants globally.

What benefits do restaurants receive from the American Express historic restaurant grant program?

Selected restaurants receive a $50,000 grant for renovation and growth, plus one year of complimentary ResyOS service from Resy, an American Express company.

How many restaurants does American Express support through its platforms?

American Express serves over 27,000 restaurants and hospitality venues across the U.S. through its owned platforms Resy and Tock.