DAVENPORT, Iowa — A restaurant in downtown Davenport is receiving tens of thousands of dollars to update its historical building thanks to a grant from American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Miss Phay Café has occupied the 160-year-old building at the corner of Fifth and Brady streets for five years. It's owned by the same family as Lemongrass Café in Moline and Exotic Thai on 53rd Street.
Since it opened, server Dalton Kinman says the café's owners have worked with engineers to make sure the brickwork is safe.
"We have tried from the very beginning to make sure this building is again safe secure and sound," Kinman said. "And we've tried everything we can to keep it intact and as true to its history as we can."
There's been plenty of work done already, including new floors and bar fixtures, murals on the walls and paint outside. But the grant will let the owners do even more.
Kinman said some of the grant will be used to repair the original tile work at each of the front doors, along with the stone stairs. Their biggest idea hasn't been announced to the public yet.
"What we hope to do, is we are going to taking down the Hilltop sign, and we are going to be putting a beautiful new mural on the side of this building," Kinman said. "And we’re planning to have either an outdoor garden or an outdoor patio as well."
According to the terms of the grant, the restaurant must spend at least $40,000 on exterior improvements. The rest can be spent on operating expenses or other business needs. Miss Phay Café is one of 50 restaurants that received the grant this year, and one of two in Iowa.