Company Announcements

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.

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