AMY JOHNSON'S business had only about a 50-50 chance of making it. But five years down the road, Amy's Cafe in Falmouth is thriving, despite a lease restriction that requires the restaurant to conduct its last seating at 7 p.m. Now, with a little help from the Stafford County Economic Development Authority and a new landlord, the business could soar.

Paul Eakin and his wife have a contract to buy the building at 103 Cambridge St. that houses Amy's. They're hoping that the EDA will grant them $60,000 to help spruce up the place. They plan to offer Amy's a long-term lease.

The 200-year-old tavern building, with its weathered brick exterior and small-paned windows, exudes history. After leasing the place in 2007, Ms. Johnson and some volunteers re-built the deck, constructed a bar inside, and polished up the interior wood to create what she was hoping would be a "neighborly feel." And indeed, she has. Good food, great service, and occasional live music have created a loyal following for Amy's.

Now the EDA has a chance to help make it even better. Ms. Johnson had to borrow $60,000 and work 14-hour days in the beginning to bring her dream to fruition. What she's done is more than open a restaurant: She's helped bring life back to old Falmouth. That's the kind of business that deserves support.