National Trust for Historic Preservation awards $50K to The Trolley Stop Restaurant in Ellicott City

Last Updated 9/13/2025 • Posted in The Trolley Stop Restaurant and Bar

The Trolley Stop Restaurant is excited to announce that it has received a $50,000 grant from the Backing Historic Small Restaurants Grant Program, presented by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express.

This funding will support exterior improvements designed to repair the damages of the floods of 2016 and 2018. The Trolley Stop Restaurant is one of 50 historic small restaurants across the country to receive a grant. (There were over 500 applicants and thousands of nominations for this year's 2025 grant).

The Trolley Stop's stone building, built in 1833, began as a tavern and country inn before eventually becoming a general store and boarding house. The restaurant got its name as the Trolley No. 14 car stopped directly outside the second-floor dining room from 1889-1927. In 1927, the Trolley changed to the No. 9 car and made its final run on June 18, 1955.

The Trolley Stop has been a full-service Restaurant and Bar since the early 1980's. Its menu reflects classic American fare and Maryland seafood with hearty portions and comforting dishes like crab cakes, prime beef, burgers and pasta. The Trolley Stop serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and features Happy Hour, an Open Mic night and a Karaoke night.

The Trolley Stop is more than just a great place to eat, it is a community landmark that has been serving locals and visitors since 1833.

Since 2020, the Backing Historic Small Restaurants program, developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express, has celebrated the strength and resilience of small, historic restaurants across the country. To date, American Express has awarded over $8 million in grants to 180 small restaurants across the U.S. through this program—helping to preserve culinary heritage while helping to fuel local economies.

Learn more about the Backing Historic Small Restaurants Grant Program and the other recipients at SavingPlaces.org/historicrestaurants.