Casale’s Halfway Club in Reno was named one of 50 recipients in the 2025 “Backing Historic Small Restaurants” program, a joint initiative from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express.
The national program supports small, independent restaurants that serve as cultural and culinary landmarks in their communities.
The grant will support improvements to the exterior of Casale’s building, with eligible upgrades including murals, awnings, lighting, signage, painting, facade cleaning, and outdoor seating enhancements. Up to $10,000 of the grant may be used for general operating expenses. Additionally, Casale’s will receive complimentary use of Resy OS, a restaurant management software owned by American Express, for one year.
“These restaurants demonstrate the power that places hold. For generations, neighbors have gathered here, shared stories, made new connections, and enjoyed regional cuisine that often reflects our nation’s global roots,” said Carol Quillen, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “We’re grateful and proud to join with American Express to help ensure that these meaningful places thrive and continue to serve as vibrant, welcoming spaces for years to come.”
“What started as a pandemic response has grown into a movement to uplift the historic restaurants that shape our neighborhoods and connect generations through food,” said Madge Thomas, head of corporate sustainability at American Express. “Our 2025 grantees reflect the deep-rooted food traditions that define American communities, and we hope these grants spark ripple effects that sustain them in the future.”
Many of the selected restaurants are family-run and have served their communities for generations.
Van Sharma, whose family owns Bombay Mahal in Brunswick, Maine, received a grant in 2024 and described the impact it had.
“The American Express grant allowed our longstanding restaurant to make a massive transformation inside and out. It was also the space that helped us launch a now national Indian beer company. It’s amazing to see how what our parents created has been able to benefit from this tremendous investment for the next generation,” Sharma said.
Now in its fifth year, the program has awarded more than $8 million to 180 restaurants across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
