Bill’s off Broadway was an early pandemic casualty on Capitol Hill. Pelicana Chicken will soon take its place at Harvard and Pine.

A rescue plan, indeed. Two of the best things about living on Capitol Hill are hoped to get a boost from federal COVID-19 relief dollars. CHS reported here about how the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program could aid the recovery of Capitol Hill clubs and stages.

Now, after starting the process to help save venues like Neumos, the American Rescue Plan Act is back to help save the day for the hundreds of restaurants across the Central District and Capitol Hill that have seen the food and drink economy turned upside, backwards, and inside out over the course of the pandemic.

The application process opened up last week for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, Washington D.C.’s $28.6 billion stabilization effort.

In addition to bringing a much needed financial boost for the neighborhood’s restaurants, the milestone might also reveal more about which Capitol Hill venues are on a temporary hiatus and which have truly permanently closed.

The Paycheck Protection Program was designed only to keep workers on the payroll as the COVID-19 crisis locked down much of the country. Like the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, the RRF is designed to now provide emergency aid to a large and at-risk portion of the nation’s economy as it recovers from losses during the pandemic.

Recipients of the PPP are also eligible for the new funding but a loan under that program will count against the money an applicant can be granted from the revitalization fund.

Applicants can ask for up to $10 million in aid but the grant can’t exceed their “pandemic-related” revenue loss minus anything received under the PPP. For the simplest calculation of loss, compare gross receipts in 2020 to the totals from 2019.

For the first 21 days, the Small Business Administration says it will prioritize processing applications from businesses owned and controlled by women, veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. After that, eligible applications will be funded on a first-come, first-served basis and the online application will remain open to any eligible establishment until all funds are exhausted, Seattle’s Office of Economic Development says.

Of the billions on the line in the rush to deploy funding, the program is weighted to save some for the little guys with $5 billion apportioned for businesses earning not more than $500,000 per year, $4 billion for $501,000 to $1.5 million annually, and $500 million to establishments making under $50,000.

Restaurants, food stands, bars and taverns, bakeries, and brewpubs, wineries, and distilleries are included in the eligibility guidelines though venues like Neumos that apply for a Shuttered Venue Operators Grant are not.

One key category also not eligible: restaurants that have permanently closed. The grants can be used for payroll and health care, rent and mortgages, utilities, construction costs, supplier costs, operational expenses, paid sick leave, and more — but not for covering costs of a closed restaurant or resurrecting a shuttered bar.

The OED has posted more information about the program and how to get help applying here.

Capitol Hill and Central District COVID-19 Crisis Closures: CHS has tried to confirm all reported statuses. Please let us know if any information needs to be updated [email protected] -- LAST UPDATED: 3/23/21

Food and drink

• Little Neon Taco, reported 3/1/2021
• By Tae, reported 3/1/2021
• R Place, reported 2/2/2021
• The Wandering Goose, reported 12/29/2020
• Barca, announced 11/11/2020
• Suika, lease issues, announced 9/27/2020
• Juicebox Cafe, announced 9/28/20
• Heritage Distilling Capitol Hill, announced 9/25/20
• Amandine, closing 9/30/20 announced 9/25/20
• Bar Sue, announced 9/25/20
• Marination Station, announced 9/14/20
• Ha Na, announced 8/27/20
• Intrigue Coffeehouse, announced 8/21/20
• Nates Wings & Waffles, Happy Grillmore and the Central District Ice Cream Company, announced 8/6/20
• Americana, Broadway, announced 7/23/20
• The Lounge by AT&T and Ada’s Discovery Cafe, E Thomas, announced 7/7/20
• Bill's Off Broadway, E Pine, announced 6/24/20
• Stumptown, 12th Ave, announced 5/26/20
• Adana, 15th and Pine, announced 5/21/20
• Tougo, 18th and Union, announced early April, Yesler location remains open
• My Thai, 10th Ave E, closed but we're not sure when it shuttered

Retail and more

• Rocket Fizz, reported 3/23/2021
• Drizzle and Shine, BurnCycle, and Blue Sky Cleaners, reported 3/1/2021
• Everyday Music, 10th Ave, June 2021
• QFC, 15th Ave E, 4/24/21
• Sameday Testing, 15th Ave E, February
• GameStop, Broadway, 2020
• Velocity Dance Center, 12th Ave, will continue as organization but leaving Capitol Hill space, announced 12/4/20.
• Stock and Pantry, E Pine, announced 10/14/20
• Take 2, 15th Ave E, announced 9/30/20
• No Parking, E Pike, announced 9/5/20
• Ritual House, 19th Ave E, reported 7/15/20
• Totokaelo, 10th Ave, reported 7/13/20
• Mode of Fitness, E Pine
• Urban Outfitters, Broadway, youth fashion chain's exit began last summer as Broadway Market began search for new tenant
• Le Frock, E Pike, consignment shop announced permanent closure in April

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