The Fig & Barrel Pub
Owner: Nathan and Lisa Novak
Location: York, PA
Business: Restaurant
Purpose of Loan: Start-Up Costs and Working Capital
Impact: Economic Security
When a major revitalization effort was underway in downtown York, Nathan and Lisa Novak saw the perfect opportunity to launch their dream. For some time, the young couple had been planning to open their own upscale gastro pub. They realized they had found the perfect location when a vacant, historic property was being renovated by a local developer and available for lease.
Having already gained experience working at a family member’s restaurant, Nathan and Lisa applied what they learned to formulate a comprehensive business plan. When the couple began investigating financing options, they could not find even one bank that was willing to lend to a start-up restaurant. Luckily, they connected with Finanta.
For more than a year, Finanta worked with the Novaks to get their business off the ground. This involved working with the developer and recruiting other funding partners to securing financing. Our loan was used to cover the costs for tenant fit-out, the purchase of equipment, furniture and fixtures, and working capital for the first months of operation.
After many months of work, Fig & Barrel opened and now offers gourmet burgers, artisan tater tots and wood-fired oven pizza. Many of the ingredients are locally sourced, seasonal and embody the farm-to-table philosophy. Patrons can also enjoy pre-prohibition style craft cocktails made with fresh ingredients using a barrel ageing process. As a result, the restaurant is thriving in York’s downtown scene.