The Ribeyes Steakhouse planned for Washington should be open in the early spring, according to one of the owners.

Justin Pate, during the Washington City Council’s meeting Monday, said his family is looking forward to bringing Ribeyes to the city’s waterfront. Pate and his father Larry Pate are partners in Pates Food Group, the business entity preparing to open the seventh Ribeyes in eastern North Carolina. The Pates plan to renovate the building that housed the former Apollo’s Steakhouse and other restaurants to accommodate a restaurant that would create 10 full-time equivalent jobs, making it eligible to apply for $50,000 building reuse grant for building renovations and upfit, according to a memorandum from Matt Rauschenbach, the city’s administrative services director and chief financial officer, to the mayor and council members.

The council unanimously adopted a resolution supporting the grant application.

The memorandum notes total eligible expenses for the proposal are estimated at $100,000. The city’s contribution to the project, if it agrees to support the grant application, would be $2,500.

Councilman Doug Mercer asked if the Pates agreed to reimburse the city for its contribution to the project. Rauschenbach said the Pates would reimburse the city. Mercer asked if the reimbursement agreement is in writing. City Manager Bobby Roberson said once the city receives notification the grant is approved, the city will include the reimbursement agreement in a contract between it and the Pates Food Group.

Councilman Richard Brooks asked if the city would be protected from paying back money if Pates Food Group does not meet grant requirements. Roberson said the contract would provide such protection.

In an interview last week, Rauschenbach said the grant agreement contains the usual performance requirements concerning job retention, including a clawback provision that would require the state to be reimbursed if those requirements are not met. In the past, the city has made sure it is not liable to repay the state if the project fails to meet the requirements.

A pre-application form lists Mark V.L. Gray, a Greensboro-based lawyer, as the property owner. The property is located at 228 Stewart Parkway. The grant application was due to the state Tuesday.

The project’s total renovation cost is estimated at $98,000, with the total project funding listed as $280,000, according to Rauschenbach. Proposed renovations include replacing the handicapped-accessible ramp with a lift system, changes to the kitchen area and an outdoor dining area where the existing ramp is located.

Grant documents indicate the 10 full-time equivalent employees would earn a combined $240,480 a year, with an average weekly wage per employee of $462.46. The employees include a general manager (full-time), a cook (full-time), two bar attendants, eight waiters, two floor manager/waiter positions, two salad bar manager positions and two cook positions.

Ribeyes has locations in Beaufort, Cape Carteret, Snow Hill, Williamston, Tarboro, Henderson, Mount Olive, Greenville and Nashville.