Locally owned CoreLife Eatery to pay nearly $8 million in lawsuit over pandemic relief funds
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — North Syracuse-based restaurant CoreLife Eatery, known for its salads and healthy foods, has been ordered to pay almost $8 million for falsely claiming they were eligible for pandemic relief funds.
NewsChannel 9 has obtained a copy of the court documents that allege the restaurant lied about the number of restaurants it had in order to get pandemic relief funds.
Currently, CoreLife Eatery has 36 locations, with 15 in New York and three in Central New York.
According to the lawsuit filed by the United States Department of Justice, Northern District of New York, they are ordering CoreLife Eatery to pay $7.8 million for falsely certifying its eligibility for a Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) grant.
Back in March of 2021, Congress moved forward with the American Rescue Plan Act as a continuation of the federal government's efforts to help provide relief to American individuals and businesses who were suffering as a result of the pandemic.
According to the filing, the Act allocated $28.6 billion toward an RRF, to be administered by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), that could grant qualifying restaurants and other 'eligible entities' money awards equal to revenue losses caused by the pandemic. A restaurant was not an 'eligible entity' if, as of March 13, 2020, it (together with its 'affiliated businesses') owned or operated more than 20 locations.
On May 3, 2021, CoreLife applied for an RRF grant for the amount of $3,904,686.55, but per the guidelines, they were actually ineligible as at the time, they had 29 locations.
A question on the grant's application asked if CoreLife owned or operated more than 20 locations as of March 13, 2020. A managing member responded to that question with 'no.'
The filing stated that CoreLife has since admitted to, acknowledged, and accepted responsibility for the wrongdoings regarding the grant.
The chain also has locations in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, and Kentucky.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Metal manufacturer to lay off nearly 150 in Lakeville, Shakopee, Plymouth
A Plymouth-based sheet metal fabricator and manufacturer of precision metal components will close all of its Minnesota facilities, including its Lakeville, Plymouth and Shakopee locations, laying off nearly 150 workers following failed efforts to put itself up for sale. J&E Companies will lay off 45 employees from its Lakeville site alone, including welders, machine operators, process engineers, plant managers, drivers and other job classifications. A letter to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, dated June 2, indicated that the layoffs will take effect that same day 'due to financial difficulties and circumstances,' and that 'a potential sale of the business' had fallen through. The workers are non-unionized and do not have bumping rights, according to the company's letter, which is signed by a corporate adviser from Harney Partners. J&E Companies was founded more than 65 years ago and provided precision machining and fabrication services to the medical, aerospace, commercial and agricultural industries, according to its website. In 2022, it acquired R&B, a Wisconsin-based precision machining company with more than 100 employees. In all, the merged companies maintained six sites in Minnesota, Racine, Wis. and Reynosa, Mexico, with a combined total of 325 employees. A call to a company spokesperson was not immediately returned on Wednesday. Whitebridge Capital Partners announced Wednesday it is acquiring the major assets of R&B Grinding of Racine, which will be renamed RB Industrial Manufacturing LLC, 'in recognition of the full range of machining processes the company can provide from its 140,000 square foot facility,' reads a statement from Whitebridge, which specializes in distressed manufacturing companies. 'We're not involved in the Minnesota operations at all,' said Todd DiBenedetto, principal with Whitebridge Capital Partners, in a brief phone interview on Wednesday. He said the Mexican plant was still in operation, and 'we are looking at it. We may get involved with it in the future, but right this second, we're not.' Feds: Minneapolis, Dakota County search warrants stemmed from 900 lbs of meth found in Burnsville storage unit Eagan city administrator withdraws resignation, passes up ICMA role Community memorial set for William 'Ike' Eickholt, found dead last winter MN Legislature: Measure to divert transportation funds from counties dropped Charges filed in drive-by shooting outside Burnsville High School graduation
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Raising Cane's Just Opened Its First Location In This Southern City
When Raising Cane's opened its first location in Southaven, Mississippi this week, a long line of customers was already waiting. It's no wonder, because the new restaurant gave 20 lucky customers free Cane's for a year, according to WREG in Memphis. The Louisiana-based chicken chain is known for chicken fingers dipped in Cane's Sauce, a proprietary and top-secret recipe. Combos come with a side of crinkle-cut fries, cole slaw, and Texas toast. WREG says a 10-year-old, Adam Hamed, got his parents to drive him from out of town at 6 a.m. for a chance at free chicken. The store opened at 10 and Hamed was 83rd in line. 'It's the sauce and the chicken tenders. That's what I love — the sauce,' said Hamed. As for the woman who was first in line, Suzette Hughes from Milington, she slept outside the door. 'There is no place like Cane's… no place like Cane's… no place like Cane's,' she told WREG. 'I got here last night, about 8 last night, camped on the sidewalk. Had my blowup queen-size air bed. That's where I slept.' Those who didn't win a year's worth of chicken still got something for their efforts. The chicken chain gave out a commemorative hat and free box combo card to the first 100 buyers of a combo. Raising Cane's has added more than 800 locations since the original restaurant opened near LSU's campus in 1996. Read the original article on Southern Living
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Politically tied loan request awaits state panel's decision
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — A Sioux Falls-based business that has significant political connections to the highest levels of South Dakota state government is seeking a $1.2 million low-interest loan from the state Board of Economic Development. The board on Wednesday delayed a decision on the REDI loan application, however, until after CoAxis Energy Company can provide additional information to the Governor's Office of Economic Development that the board has requested. The board operates as the decision-making arm of GOED. CoAxis is a liquid natural gas supplier and system designer. Its president is Scott Stern. He was GOED commissioner during the latter years of the Daugaard administration and is president of family-owned Stern Oil Company, based in Freeman. Cheyenne River Reservation authorities investigating 2 deaths Among others listed on the CoAxis website's leadership page is Dennis Daugaard, who served as South Dakota governor from 2011 through 2018. Daugaard appointed Stern in 2016 as GOED commissioner. Stern stepped down in November 2018 as Daugaard's time as governor came to a close. A business record on file at the South Dakota Secretary of State office shows that Stern established CoAxis in 2019, the year after he had returned to the private sector. The CoAxis vice president is Trent Arlint. He is married to Republican Rep. Amber Arlint. Stern is her father. Two of the state board's members, chair Jeff Erickson of Sioux Falls and Joy Nelson of Watertown, recused themselves from the discussion during the teleconference on Wednesday. Erickson said they serve on the board of directors for a bank that may be participating. Erickson, Nelson and Daugaard are directors for American Bank & Trust. Erickson and Daugaard have also been involved with Standard Trust, a Sioux Falls-based investment company. Gov. Larry Rhoden appointed Daugaard's son-in-law, Tony Venhuizen, as lieutenant governor earlier this year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
