These 19 Citrus Heights restaurants received over $4.8M in extra federal relief

Sentinel staff report–
While more than 500 businesses in Citrus Heights received millions in forgivable loans from the well-known Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) during pandemic-related shutdowns last year, just 19 local restaurants were lucky enough this year to have their applications approved for new funding allocated to restaurants in the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan.

A total of $28.6 billion was allocated to the American Rescue Plan’s “Restaurant Revitalization Fund,” of which $5.7 billion went to restaurants in California and $4.85 million of that went to restaurants in Citrus Heights. Ten of the local restaurants each received over $100,000 in funds, with India Oven topping the list at $1.2 million. Nine received under $100,000, with the lowest amount ($20,000) going to a Subway restaurant on Tupelo Drive.

According to the Small Business Administration’s website, the revitalization fund was designed to “provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location.” Guidelines state that recipients “are not required to repay the funding as long as funds are used for eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023.”

From last year: COVID-19: Citrus Heights businesses received millions in PPP loans. See the list

Grant application data published in raw format on the SBA website indicates most of the approved applicants sought funds to help cover utilities and payroll costs, as well as a category labeled “covered supplier costs.” Allowable uses also include rent payment, construction of outdoor seating, and business operating expenses.

The following is a list of businesses with Citrus Heights addresses which received grant funds from the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. Where the business’s common operating name was not included in official filings, the name of the business operating at the address listed has been added in parentheses.

• $1,223,678 | India Oven Restaurant & Banquet LLC. 6105 Sunrise Vista Dr.
• $873,746 | Sunrise Plaza Restaurant Inc (Corner Pocket Sports Bar). 7777 Sunrise Blvd., Ste 1400.
• $651,177 | Cal Restaurants (Boston’s Pizza). 5511 Sunrise Blvd.
• $324,907 | Mongolian BBQ. 8069 Greenback Ln.
• $323,592 | Charlie’s Cafe. 7979 Auburn Blvd.
• $261,329 | Ramos & Miles Ventures LLC (R Vida Cantina). 7040 Sunrise Blvd.
• $195,084 | Roseville Capital LLC (Russkaya Apteka). 6041 Greenback Ln.
• $186,060 | Mizuki Sushi Inc. 5500 Sunrise Blvd., Ste 500
• $129,332 | CJJ 21C Enterprise Inc (Haya Sushi). 7086 Auburn Blvd., Ste 160
• $117,594 | Ice and Spoon LLC (Baskin Robbins). 6142 Sunrise Mall, A8
• $90,585 | PizzAmericaInc (Sbarro). 6148 Sunrise Mall.
• $86,995 | American River Provisions. 7530 Auburn Blvd., Unit A
• $80,614 | New Shanghai LLC. 7952 Auburn Blvd.
• $79,035 | Yun Kim (Tugboat Fish & Chips). 7135 Greenback Ln.
• $76,157 | Meuy Saelee (unclear). 6456 Tupelo Dr., Ste A3
• $54,012 | Phuong Chung (Pho Saigon Palace). 6029 Greenback Ln.
• $50,440 | SJCS Inc (Corner Stone Restaurant). 6048 San Juan Ave.
• $30,831 | Favorite Dish LLC (unclear). 7115 Greenback Ln.
• $20,141 | Subway. 6456 Tupelo Dr., Ste A1.

Citrus Heights also had an additional restaurant stimulus program active last year called Great Plates Delivered, which utilized federal and state funding to pay six participating restaurants to deliver up to three meals a day to seniors and at-risk individuals during the pandemic.

The program was discontinued by the City Council in December after city staff said funding delays from FEMA caused the city to have to front nearly $2 million to keep the program going while awaiting reimbursement.

From December: Restaurant stimulus ends in Citrus Heights, amid FEMA payment delays

The American Rescue Plan also provided funds to local governments, of which Citrus Heights has been allocated $15.6 million. The city has received half of that amount so far, and is expected to receive the second half in May next year.

The city has so far allocated $5.3 million of its relief funds to go towards restoring 22 of 28 cut police positions, which will bring staffing back to pre-pandemic levels.