ANDERSONVILLE — The owner of Pie Hole Pizza Joint is asking for customers' help to obtain a $250,000 small business grant from Chase Bank.
On Oct. 1, Chase launched its Mission Main Street Grants competition, which is also sponsored by Google. Chase plans to award a dozen $250,000 grants to small businesses across the country.
Pie Hole Owner Doug Brandt hopes his North Side pizza joint at 5001 N. Clark St. is one of the lucky 12.
Interested applicants have to fill out a grant application, get 250 consumer votes via online voting, and be chosen by a panel from the pool of grant hopefuls.
Brandt has been making a push for votes on social media and posted a link to the Pie Hole Facebook page on Tuesday asking people to cast their vote for Pie Hole and spread the word.
Brandt, who also has a Pie Hole location in Lakeview, told DNAinfo Chicago the grant would primarily go toward his Andersonville location, which opened in May. Brandt said that he would use it to install new signage, expand his menu, hire more people, buy a delivery vehicle, install air conditioning, buy new, better ovens and upgrade other kitchen equipment.
He also said he would try to use the grant toward creating a garden where the produce would go into Pie Hole pizzas.
To learn more about the Mission Main Street Grants or vote for Pie Hole Pizza Joint, click here.
