$10.6M In Lifeline Federal Grants Went To Bayside's Restaurants

BAYSIDE, QUEENS — 54 Bayside-based food business received lifeline grants from the federal government as part of the COVID-recovery packaged passed in January, new data shows.

The grants came from the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, a $28.6 billion fund aimed at supporting the devastated hospitality industry as part of the national COVID-19 Stimulus Package. Bayside's recipients, which received grants ranging from $7,100 to over $1 million, were revealed last week by the Small Business Administration (SBA) in response to a Freedom of Information Act request.

In total 5,700 New York City food businesses received federal grants totaling $2.8 billion, but the now-depleted fund still shut out nearly two-thirds of applicants statewide, despite allocating some of the largest grants to franchises and well-funded restaurant groups.

Funding discrepancies

27,000-plus food businesses in New York requested $9.63 billion in funding from the SBA, but the agency was only able to fulfill 9,800 applications in the state.

And, based on the grant structure, some of the New York establishments that received the most money from the fund are among the country's most well-known and well-funded eateries.

Single venue food businesses were eligible for up to $5 million in funding, and restaurant groups with fewer than 20 locations could apply for up to $10 million, which explains why David Chang's billionaire-backed Momofuku restaurant group secured a $6.8 million grant even though the average loan size was about $283,000, as Eater reported.

Also, while publicly traded companies weren't eligible for funding, franchise owners could apply for the SBA grants — and they did.

In Bayside, Subway and Gong Cha franchisees (both apparently based in the neighborhood), were awarded over $220,000 apiece.

Millions went to other chains citywide, like a Dunkin' Donuts on the Upper East Side that was awarded the fund's maximum grant of $10 million, and a group of local Panera Bread Stores that secured $6.72 million.

Another funding discrepancy that critics have pointed out is that the SBA was initially supposed to prioritize restaurants owned by women, veterans and members of other marginalized groups, but that aspect was halted after white business owners sued, alleging that the government was discriminating against them.

Restaurant Revitalization grants in Bayside

In Bayside the average grant was $196,602.

Some recipients are well-known citywide chains, like Bareburger and Red Mango, while others are local spots based throughout the neighborhood's three ZIP codes (11360, 11361, 11364).

Here are the 10 neighborhood businesses that got the biggest grants:

1. ChilSung Korean BBQ, 221-28 Horace Harding Expy: $1,436,515
2. Karaoke Boho (a Manhattan karaoke bar operated from 4729 Bell Blvd Apt. A): $861,817
3. Pyramids Hookah & Bar, 4019 Bell Blvd: $486,382
4. Pour House, 21311 41st Ave: $451,786
5. Marbella, 22033 Northern Blvd: $443,638
6. Freckled Moose (an Astoria restaurant apparently operated from 1718 201 Street): $365,844
7. Slim's Bagels, 22118 Horace Harding Expy: $342,448
8. Biwon Restaurant, 6158 Springfield Blvd: $300,441
9. Dae Song Chinese Restaurant, 4332 Corporal Kennedy St: $277,108
10. choiga naeng myun, 20935 Northern Blvd Suite#108: $267,197

Below, scroll through the full list of Bayside spots that received federal grants. (Note that many are listed under business aliases, but searching the name on the state's liquor license database can reveal each one's identity.)

If the spreadsheet does not display, view it here.

Patch editor Nick Garber contributed to this report.