At the Sept. 16, 2024, Athens City Council meeting, the council reviewed and ratified two Athens Main Street facade grants.

The two Downtown Athens restaurants will receive their funding from Athens Main Street. The Athens City Council previously allocated $50,000 to Athens Main Street to administer a façade grant program for Downtown Athens.

Athens Main Street awarded, and the Council reviewed and ratified, a $20,000 grant to Alehouse for its renovation work at its new location on Marion Street. The site will increase Alehouse’s seating and number of employees, and allow owners to expand its menu. There will be indoor and outdoor dining options.

“This project brought life back to a vacant, historic building and will add to the downtown atmosphere,” Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks said.

Athens Main Street awarded, and the Council reviewed and ratified, a $19,797.26 grant to Ro’s for an expansion to provide outdoor dining. This work will increase seating at the restaurant, a popular destination for lunch and supper.

“If you’ve tried to get in to eat at Ro’s, you know the additional seating is needed, and this will enhance that corner,” Marks said.

Athens Main Street Director Tere Richardson spoke at the Council meeting and said the two projects will increase the vibrancy of downtown.

“We are now known for our outdoor dining,” she said. “This will mean more dining, more sales, and more sales tax.”