RESTAURANT ATTRACTION AND EXPANSION PROGRAM

OVERVIEW

The City of Wadsworth Restaurant Expansion & Attraction Program (REAP) is intended to assist in offsetting the cost to prospective food-related businesses in Wadsworth. It is designed to help attract new restaurants while also supporting the expansion of existing food establishments. The REAP seeks to help address the cost of commercial kitchens, thereby helping minimize a barrier to entry into the restaurant industry.  

SECOND ROUND OF RESTAURANT EXPANSION & ATTRACTION PROGRAM (REAP) 2023

The City of Wadsworth Restaurant Expansion and Attraction Program (REAP) is excited to announce the latest round of grants which are helping grow the restaurant scene within Wadsworth. The REAP budget was $75,000 and offers a 50% reimbursement on eligible kitchen and restaurant build-outs. Eligible participants must be establishing or expanding a full-service dining restaurant.            

The second round of award recipient, The Vue, will be located at 102 High Street and will offer a casual fine dining menu with a strong focus on high-quality local ingredients. Only dinner will be served, with a wide selection of sophisticated, yet affordable wines, beers, and cocktails. Currently it is undergoing a major interior renovation, including a new commercial kitchen, bar, and dining area!

Reap 2nd Round Recipient

FIRST ROUND OF RESTAURANT EXPANSION & ATTRACTION PROGRAM (REAP)

The Restaurant Expansion and Attraction Program (REAP) is set to give out its first city-funded grant awards. The program was funded with a total budget of $50,000 and offers a 50% reimbursement on eligible improvements associated with new or expanding restaurants within the city.  

The first round of award recipients for this program is as follows:

  • SONNETS ($18,000) is a coffee shop and whiskey bar with a New Orleans-style cuisine, and the renovation will increase seating capacity and construct a new kitchen with a hood ventilation system. 
  • Great Oaks Tavern ($16,000) is a family-friendly entertainment venue and full-service restaurant, and the renovation will add new seats and expand the kitchen and prep area. 
  • UnWined Main Street ($10,500) is a casual cocktail, bourbon, and wine bar, and the renovation will build out a commercial kitchen with a hood, freezer/refrigerator unit, and expanded kitchen and prep areas. 
  • Water Main Grille ($5,500) is a full-service diner specializing in breakfast and grille food and the renovation will install new exterior and interior doors to improve circulation and create additional dining space, purchase a compact upright reach-in freezer unit and resurface the kitchen floor. 

Private investment is expected to exceed $1,191,325 for additional restaurant and kitchen upgrades. The City of Wadsworth plans to have another round of funding offered through the program later this year.

1st round of reap