Candyce Platt, co-owner of Wilson, NY’s newest bar and restaurant, The Lemon Room, says “Having this loan and the interest-only term is so important. It meant we can focus on launching and building our business while also being able to stay afloat personally, because we have the operating funds we need to get through an important time.”
Here’s how Candyce and her business partner and spouse, Dave Riggs, secured startup financing with the Main Street Capital Loan Fund from Pursuit.
A fresh take on Niagara County’s culinary offerings
When The Lemon Room opened in late spring of 2025, it was a breath of fresh air for Niagara County’s culinary scene. Here, Candyce and Dave celebrate the region’s plethora of offerings, from farm-fresh produce to regionally inspired cocktails and classics.
Along with wine, ciders, and craft liquors from the area and beyond, they serve a variety of sandwiches and shareable plates that celebrate the region’s agricultural richness and seasons.
To bring their dream to fruition, Candyce and Dave needed financing.
For them, the perfect solution was the Main Street Capital Loan Fund. This is a special financing program targeted to small businesses in the startup and early stages, including those in communities that have historically faced challenges in accessing funding or favorable terms. The $10-million loan program was developed by Empire State Development and is offered through Pursuit to fill the funding void for new small businesses in New York State.
The loans can be used for working capital, acquiring equipment and other essential assets, staffing, and more. Another tremendous benefit is that the loans include a fixed interest rate and borrowers only have to pay interest for the first year of the loan. This frees up more money each month to reinvest in their businesses.
Access to financing for startups and early-stage businesses
Candyce and Dave worked with the Niagara County Community College Small Business Development Center (NCCC SBDC) since the summer of 2024.
“I found out about the Main Street Capital Loan Fund program through an email marketing newsletter from the SBDC,” Candyce says. “So, these connections work. They add real value, especially when you’re new to the challenges of business ownership.”
Candyce and Dave filled out an online pre-application questionnaire, which helps Pursuit confirm program eligibility. Pursuit Senior Business Development Officer Ethan Ruot got in touch soon after receiving their information.
“Pursuit made the loan process so easy for us,” Candyce says. Among many positive aspects, she says that Pursuit’s accessibility and flexibility helped them navigate the process, despite the unconventional hours that their current restaurant work demanded.
“As people who work in the restaurant business, we work odd hours, lots of late nights, too,” Candyce explains. “Being able to have meetings with Pursuit via Zoom and to send and receive documents electronically – all of those things helped.”
She adds, “Ethan was great and it made it easier to have someone local to work with. Honestly, the loan process was really easy and convenient and we felt really supported.”
“This loan program enables us to have flexibility that other loans don’t,” Candyce says about the ways the financing is helping The Lemon Room’s early stages. “We’re using the funds for leasehold improvements and business-operating costs for the next six-to-eight months, which gets us through our opening and the summer, so enough time to get situated.”
Essential connections are key
Andrea Lizak, Associate Director and Business Advisor of the SBDC at Buffalo State University (BSU SBDC), says, “In addition to the interest-only period, the loans through this program also have more favorable rates than many other business loans. The Main Street Capital Loan Fund opens the door for people who want to start a business.”
Marilyn Roach, Senior Business Advisor and Financial Specialist at BSU SBDC, adds that as a hub of entrepreneurial support in the region, SBDCs work to leverage their collective knowledge to help small business owners.
“We aim to bring together all the resources in the larger Western New York region,” she says, “such as Pursuit, Empire State Development, industrial-development agencies, and more. Each organization is knowledgeable about the opportunities and challenges facing small businesses and when we connect these on behalf of entrepreneurs, it brings real benefit.”
Pursuit and Main Street Capital Loan Fund help startup business dreams come true
Asked about seeking other financing before this, Candyce admits, “We had conversations but as a startup and in the restaurant industry, other lenders didn’t want to take the risk. But, our bank did recommend that we talk to the SBDC and Pursuit!”
If you need funds to launch, or you want to strengthen your early-stage business, or you have an existing business that’s outside of the Main Street Capital Loan Fund’s criteria but you need financing, Pursuit can help.
With loans from $10,000 to $5.5 million, we can help you secure financing for working capital, equipment, the purchase or construction of commercial real estate, to refinance business debt and more for businesses in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Nevada, Illinois, and Washington.
Contact us to learn more.