The Oswego Village Board Tuesday evening will consider a revolving loan and a grant for a new breakfast and lunch restaurant planned in the village’s downtown.
A tenant is looking to make “substantial renovations” to the property at 121 S. Main St. at the former site of The Dairy Barn, which closed a few years ago, Oswego Economic Development Director Kevin Leighty said in a report to trustees.
“The building has been vacant since The Dairy Barn last occupied it in 2022,” Leighty said.
Prior to that, the property was the longtime home of The Dairy Hut, which was demolished to make way for The Dairy Barn, Leighty said.
The applicant is proposing to open Wholey Granoly, a new breakfast and lunch restaurant, he said.
WGOSWEGO2 LLC has requested $125,000 in loan funding and the maximum $40,000 grant award to help offset the “high building material and construction costs in the current market,” Leighty said.
“This represents a total financial assistance package of $165,000 for the project. The requested incentive amount is based upon a total project budget of approximately $365,000. The remaining balance of the project costs are being covered by up to $200,000 of personal equity being contributed by the owner of the proposed restaurant business,” Leighty said.
Leighty said village staff recognizes the building at the site is still relatively new. However, the tenant has identified the need for several functional and operational improvements, such as a new hood system and related iron work enclosing an exterior patio to generate additional seating.
The tenant has also proposed installing new signage and purchasing equipment and furniture better suited for a full-service restaurant, Leighty said.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
