The College Park City Council unanimously approved $60,000 and $10,000 in business retention grants for PrimeTime and Marathon Deli, respectively, at Tuesday’s meeting.

PrimeTime, an upscale sports-themed restaurant, opened March 27 at the Cambria Hotel, according to a restaurant news release. The restaurant filled the space previously occupied by College Park Grill, which closed in 2023, The Diamondback reported.

The restaurant’s operation costs and entitlement fees reached nearly $1 million, according to Michael Williams, the city’s economic development director. The grant would accommodate for furniture, accessories and training for the 55 employees at the restaurant, Williams said during Tuesday’s meeting.

Marathon Deli, according to city documents, will use the grant for interior space improvements and equipment purchases. The deli was established in 1972 and originally requested $30,000 from the city for these improvements, according to Williams.

Throughout the council’s discussion, some members expressed concern for distributing large grants to recently opened restaurants, like PrimeTime, that have yet to make revenue.

[New upscale, sports-themed restaurant PrimeTime opens in College Park]

District 1 council member Jacob Hernandez questioned why this grant was being given to a restaurant serving high-cost meals, as this gives them a larger income than other small businesses in the city.

“I completely agree that sometimes we want to partner with some companies to try and bring them into College Park,” Hernandez said at Tuesday’s meeting. “Why give money to a restaurant that’s obviously pulling in a larger amount of income, than some of the smaller businesses we have across the city?”

The grant, Williams responded, will help PrimeTime establish its brand in the city, especially as a restaurant catering to the sports audience brought by the University of Maryland’s involvement in the Big Ten.

Williams also said it’s noteworthy that PrimeTime agreed to a 10-year lease given the rising number of restaurant closings in the city.

After the approval of these grants, the city will have about $80,000 left in business retention grants for the 2025 fiscal year, Williams said. There is also a callback feature to the grant that allows the city to take back grant money if the recipient hasn’t performed or has shut down within a certain period of time, Williams noted.

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District 2 council member Llatetra Brown Esters asked if there were other grant applications being considered because the fiscal year ends in June, leaving $80,000 for future grants.

Williams acknowledged Esters’ concerns and said the city has begun reviewing grant applications for the remainder of the fiscal year.

“We’re feeling really good about being able to help some of the smaller businesses,” Williams said.

Richard Biffle, a non-resident taxpayer in College Park, believes Marathon Deli is more deserving of a grant than PrimeTime. But the council should be hesitant when “subsidizing private for-profit businesses,” Biffle added.

Many restaurants in town are beginning to ask for subsidies, which are expensive and unnecessary, especially when these establishments are successful and well capitalized on, Biffle said.

He said he hopes the city continues to keep taxpayers in mind when approving these subsidies.

“If I want to support Marathon Deli, I’ll buy a souvlaki,” Biffle said. “I’d rather not support them by paying my property taxes.”