Incoming Geneva chicken restaurant could get city financial aid

Geneva-based restaurateurs received early support last week for securing money from the city, which they say will help with the opening of their new chicken eatery, HoneyBird.

The village board committee of the whole on July 7 recommended approval for a tax increment financing district reimbursement of up to $135,883 to the Riganato owners’ new, second restaurant.

Owners Nick and Jim Nicolaou got the approval because of the high cost of converting the more than century-old building at 427 E. State St., for restaurant use, officials said. The Geneva City Council still needs to vote before funds are distributed.

In 2024, the city council granted the brothers $38,608 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to install accessibility-friendly restrooms and a fire alarm, officials said.