The Root Cafe, a well-loved restaurant in downtown Little Rock’s SoMa district, has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the 2024 Backing Historic Small Restaurants program, a collaboration between the National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express. This grant program aims to support historic and culturally significant restaurants during the pandemic.
The Backing Historic Small Restaurants program has doubled the number of recipients from 25 to 50 this year, distributing a total of $2.5 million in funds. The Root Cafe plans to use the grant to make exterior beautification upgrades to the building, including painting doors in pastel rainbow colors and refurbishing the building’s cornbread mural. Additionally, they will replace the old thin-glass windows with insulated glass for better heating and cooling.
The Root Cafe’s owner, Jack Sundell, expressed excitement about the renovations and anticipates completion by the end of the year. The restaurant’s second location in West Little Rock’s Breckenridge Village shopping center is also still scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of this year.
This grant will not only help The Root Cafe enhance its appearance but also contribute to maintaining its cultural significance within the community. The National Trust for Historic Preservation selected The Root and other grantees based on their historical importance and contribution to their neighborhoods. With this support, The Root Cafe can continue serving its loyal customers and showcasing the rich history of its location.
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Photo credit arktimes.com