Marshalltown, IA – Zeno’s Pizza, a beloved local eatery, has been awarded a $50,000 grant as part of the 2024 Backing Historic Small Restaurants program. The grant, offered by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in partnership with American Express, recognizes historic establishments that contribute to their communities.
Neil Dalal, a community revitalization enthusiast, discovered the grant opportunity and immediately thought of Zeno’s Pizza. Dalal, friends with owners Aaron and Michele Buzbee, saw the restaurant’s rich history and community involvement as a perfect match for the grant’s criteria.
“I was looking through the grant and thought it was a great fit for Zeno’s history and what they do,” Dalal said. “It’s great that they don’t have to do a matching grant. It’ll be exciting to see what they do with the money.”
The Buzbees had only three days to apply after Dalal informed them in March. They worked quickly and met many of the grant’s requirements, including Zeno’s longstanding history since 1959, its location on Main Street, and its position within a low-income housing tract. The restaurant had also been affected by natural disasters, such as a tornado in 2018.
On June 30, Zeno’s Pizza was announced as one of the 50 recipients nationwide, and alongside Miss Phay Cafe in Davenport, it became one of the first two Iowa eateries to receive the grant. The funds will primarily go towards refurbishing Zeno’s iconic neon sign, damaged in the 2018 tornado. The sign will receive a tune-up and repainting, including addressing the peeling paint behind the letters.
In addition to the sign restoration, the grant will fund a new mural project in partnership with Project 7 Design. The mural, with 1970s and pizza themes, will cover the back and side of the building, revitalizing the facade that sustained damage from the tornado and the derecho.
Michele Buzbee expressed hope that the improvements will attract new customers and maintain the restaurant’s appeal. “We want to bring vibrancy to the east and back of the building. Since the storm, you can see the back of our building from far away. The goal is to draw people’s eyes towards our business,” she said.
Dalal emphasized the importance of pursuing similar opportunities for community growth. “There are great resources out there. We should apply for every one of them to help grow our downtown and support local businesses,” he said.
Marshalltown Central Business District Executive Director Deb Millizer highlighted the broader impact of the grant. “The Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant will significantly benefit downtown Marshalltown by enhancing operations and stimulating economic activity at Zeno’s. It will continue to be a vibrant anchor in the area, drawing visitors and benefiting neighboring businesses,” Millizer stated.
Zeno’s Pizza, known for its thin-crust tavern-style pizza, remains a cherished destination for families and pizza lovers in Marshalltown. With the support of this grant, it looks to continue its legacy and attract a new generation of patrons.