Seattle’s Iconic Maneki Receives $40,000 Grant for Small Eating places

A Seattle classic gets a big boost in funding. On May 13, it was officially announced that Maneki – the popular 117-year-old Japanese restaurant in the International District – would be among 25 US locations to receive a $ 40,000 grant from a program called Backing Historic Small Restaurants.

The grant is part of an effort by American Express and the Washington, DC-based National Trust for Historic Preservation, which is distributing a total of $ 1 million to several “culturally significant” independent restaurants to help mitigate the effects of COVID. An advisory committee that helped select the scholarship holders included famous JuneBaby and Salare chef Edouardo Jordan, and there was a public vote to determine the final list.

Maneki, whose history dates back to 1904, has shown great ingenuity and resilience since the beginning of the pandemic. For the first time, the restaurant has set up an online ordering system and offered takeout. In July, the company launched a GoFundMe to raise the much-needed cash as it struggled to generate enough business to stay afloat and keep employees on board. Maneki also received a loan from the federal payroll protection program in 2020, in addition to a small grant from the City of Seattle and help from Puget Sound Energy for a new HVAC system, but 14 months of uncertainty has taken its toll.

“The challenge with ‘package-to-delivery’ is that we’re missing out on our traditional Japanese fanfare for coverings and presentations,” restaurant owner and longtime caretaker Jean Nakayama told Eater Seattle when Maneki launched GoFundMe. “Not knowing when we can resume operations was a planned roller coaster ride.”

At this time, Maneki is only open for takeout, although the prospect of a full reopening in Washington soon is open by the summer. The funds from the new grant will be used to improve the outdoor space and develop the restaurant’s online presence, among other upgrades.

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304 6th Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98104