24 Doylestown-Area Restaurants, Inns Split $835K In Relief Funds

DOYLESTOWN, PA — Two dozen restaurants, bars and hospitality businesses in the Doylestown area received more than $800,000 in coronavirus-relief funding earlier this year through Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program.

The hospitality industry has been among the hardest-hit amid the coronavirus pandemic, with restaurants and bars ordered to suspend indoor dining last year and many unable to make ends meet with limited capacities.

Gov. Tom Wolf established the CHIRP program in December by using a $145 million surplus in the Pennsylvania’s Workers Compensation Trust.

The program was approved with nearly unanimous support from Democrats and Republicans. Just one lawmaker, Republican State Sen. Robert “Tommy” Tomlinson, of Bensalem, abstained from the vote.

Restaurants and hospitality businesses from each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties received funding from the CHIRP program. Just under $7 million was funneled to 196 businesses across three dozen municipalities in Bucks County. Those businesses employ nearly 1,400 full-time workers and 2,020 part-time workers, according to local officials.

Restaurants and food-service businesses received about 85 percent of Bucks County’s CHIRP funding, about $5.9 million, while accommodation businesses received just over $1 million.

Of that funding, $835,000 was directed to Doylestown-area businesses. Seventeen received grants of $40,000, the largest amount offered by Bucks County officials.

$40,000 grant recipients: Amber Inn, Best China Garden Restaurant, Chambers 19 Bistro & Bar, Finney’s Pub, Frank’s Knight House, Genevieve’s Kitchen, Highland Farm Bed & Breakfast, Jasmin LLC/Cross Culture, Main Street Doylestown Liquor, Main Street Inn, Maryanne Pastry Shoppe, Max & Me, Miss Morgan, PA Grill Room, Plumsteadville Pub, Slate Bleu Restaurant, The Hattery Stove & Still

$30,000 grant recipients: Honey Restaurant Corporation, Lilly’s Gourmet Take-Out & Catering

$25,000 grant recipients: Hargrave House, Manhattan Bagel

$10,000 grant recipients: Aunt Judy’s Family Restaurant, Claddagh Restaurant Group

County officials worked with the Bucks County Economic Development Corporation, the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority and Visit Bucks County to determine funding allocations based on businesses’ needs, according to Deanna Giorno, an economic development program manager with Bucks County.

Businesses can use the grants to cover payroll, rent, utilities and other operating expenses since March 2020, according to Bucks County’s guidelines for the program. Businesses that received a grant must remain open for at least a year.