In the mid-1990s, a five-year-old boy of Puerto Rican descent arrived in Seattle from Harlem, New York. That boy was Jhonny Reyes. When he started washing dishes in his late teens, he probably didn’t imagine he’d one day open his own restaurant.

In 2021, as the world reeled from the impact of Covid-19, three organizations—the Seattle Office of Economic Development, Seattle Good Business Network, and Shunpike—came together to imagine something new.

In response to a city full of empty storefronts, they launched Seattle Restored, an initiative designed to breathe life back into unused spaces while giving entrepreneurs and artists a shot at growing their businesses through short-term pop-ups—without the heavy burden of long-term leases or high overhead.

Meanwhile, like many others during the pandemic, Reyes had his hours cut. He started cooking weekly meals for his community, taking orders from all over the city. Once it was safe, he transitioned into pop-ups. Though he hadn’t yet connected with Seattle Restored, in many ways, he was already living out their vision: testing out the restaurant business without the pressure of a permanent space.

It quickly became clear that people were excited by the way he cooked—traditional Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Afro-Latin American dishes—grounded in classical techniques honed over years in some of Seattle’s top kitchens.

After three years of pop-ups, Reyes set his sights on opening a brick-and-mortar spot. As he navigated the process—signing a lease, identifying what the space needed—he realized he could use some support.

That’s when he connected with Seattle Restored. They stepped in with funding, connections, and marketing resources to help him bring his dream to life.

Today, his restaurant, Lenox, is a breezy, welcoming spot in Belltown with an unmistakable island vibe. Named after a main street in Harlem—a place rich in culture and flavor—Lenox is a tribute. A tribute to where he’s from, to where he’s going, and to the community he’s building for his children and others.

Though Reyes’ path with Seattle Restored started later than most—they typically partner at the pop-up phase—he and Lenox embody exactly what the initiative was created to support: creative entrepreneurs who breathe life into empty spaces and build something lasting. This June, Lenox celebrates its second anniversary in the brick-and-mortar space.

At its core, Seattle Restored believes that when new businesses are empowered, the ripple effects reach far beyond a storefront. They impact neighborhoods, spark community, and inspire others to dream. With Lenox, that vision is becoming reality—and it’s only just beginning.