The restaurant in Ogdensburg’s waterfront Dobisky Center wants to expand its hours of business, diversify its menu and make itself a success even in the rough and lean winter season.

And Simplicity Cafe owner and operator Trevor R. Brunet wants $15,000 of the Ogdensburg Growth Fund Development Corporation’s money to do it. On Thursday, the city’s business agency held off on his request for more information.

The Growth Fund stopped bankrolling restaurants decades ago, citing their tendency to tank, leaving the agency to sell off assets like kitchen equipment at a loss and write off the deadbeat loans.

“As a rule, we look at restaurants as a high risk,” said Mayor William D. Nelson, the Growth Fund’s chairman.

Mr. Brunet wants the money to help pay for appliances like a double-door refrigerator and a meat slicer. He also wants enough tables and chairs to seat 25 diners in the center’s boater’s lounge in winter.

The hours would change from Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. to Wednesday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“The main focus would be breakfast and lunch,” Mr. Brunet said, adding that the new hours also allowed for early dinner as well.

Mr. Brunet also envisions the Simplicity hosting events like wine-tastings. He also pledged to buy meats from local farms.

As for the supposedly dreary prospect of running a restaurant in winter, a season that board Mindy McNamara called “brutal,” Mr. Brunet has a simple, tasty solution.

“Soups,” he said. “Soups galore. Soups and sandwiches.”

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