Across the city, improvements to storefronts are making businesses and districts more attractive and inviting. This in turn attracts new customers and businesses. Business owners often see an increase in sales and an improvement in their property values. Storefront improvements also help landlords rent their vacant or difficult-to-rent properties.
ReStore helps neighborhood business and property owners with storefront improvements that can range from signage and façade enhancements to complete reconstruction. ReStore provides professional design services and technical assistance to both business and property owners.
Improvements may include:
- Restoration of exterior finishes/materials
- Repair or replacement of storefront windows and/or doors
- New signage
- Building and sign lighting
- Removal of roll-down grills
- Installation of awnings
As a condition of the funding requirements, all projects are required to remove solid, roll-down security grates or, at a minimum, convert them to the interior open-mesh type.
How Does ReStore Work?
Restore provides matching grants (up to $7,500 per storefront) to help neighborhood business and property owners complete storefront renovation projects. All loans and grants must meet eligibility criteria. A separate signage component ($2,000 grants) provides assistance on a non-matching basis for signage improvements. Grants are given for exterior finishes, repair and replacement of storefront windows and/or doors, new signage, lighting for the building and for signs, removal of solid roll-down grates, and installation of awnings.
In addition to funding, ReStore Boston provides professional architectural design services at no cost to the business to ensure improvements are well planned and of the highest quality.
Getting Started
To apply to the ReStore program, a building or business owner meets with the Executive Director of the Greater Grove Hall Main Streets program often with a business development manager from the City of Boston’s Main Street program. The Main Street Neighborhood Business Manager submits an application for review. Once the selection committee has determined eligibility, the building or business owner meets with project management and design staff who will help the owner decide what physical improvements he or she would like to make.
