Support Aviation Businesses, Dammit!

Jay Honeck

Jay Honeck

Touchdown! Greaser!
Joined
Jun 6, 2008
Messages
11,571
Location
Ingleside, TX
Display Name
Display name:
Jay Honeck
Pilots are a funny bunch. They all lament how there are so few places to fly anymore, but when something unique and awesome opens, they often ignore it.

Then, when it shuts down due to lack of business, they cry.

Well, South Texas pilots, we've got a second chance to support the on-field restaurant in Lake Jackson, Gulf Coast Regional Airport (KLBX). It's called the Runway Cafe, and the guy running it is committed to serving US, the pilot community. Mary and I ate there a few days ago, and it was great!

HOWEVER -- The last guy in that location was also terrific -- but he died on the vine, waiting for y'all to show up. Let's not do that to this guy! Here is his Facebook page -- let's get out there and support him!

https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=617848335017453

There are more pilots in the Houston area than there are in all of Iowa, so I know you guys are out there, and we all fly for food. Get thee to LBX!
:)
 
I support the sentiment.

I also note that my last flight in and out of LBX the weather was at absolute minimums - had i not seen the lights I would have gone missed. Nice little airport, though.
 
wsuffa said:
I support the sentiment.

I also note that my last flight in and out of LBX the weather was at absolute minimums - had i not seen the lights I would have gone missed. Nice little airport, though.
Click to expand...
That little airport is busy! Dow Chemical has a major plant nearby, and they run a private airline for their employees. They fly into LBX several times a day, in unmarked airliners.

We discovered this back in 2010, right after we moved to Texas. We went into the FBO and were amazed to find two fully staffed rental car desks at this (what we thought was a sleepy) little airport. We were even more stunned when they had nearly 100 rental cars, all of them reserved!

Texas airports are full of surprises.
 
There's a new guy trying to make a go of it at Stinson too. Mon-Sat for breakfast and lunch I think. Pilot-owned. I have to get over there myself.
 
Trying to do my part and make it to the Jet Room at KMSM at least one weekend per month.

Sadly, at Waukesha, they are renovating the terminal this summer, and a restaurant was proposed for a new second floor. The entire concept was nixed by a County Board member (I believe) who said that "Airport restaurants never work."
 
Van Johnston said:
There's a new guy trying to make a go of it at Stinson too. Mon-Sat for breakfast and lunch I think. Pilot-owned. I have to get over there myself.
Click to expand...
Sweet! After the government shut down the last guy, that left a big hole in the San Antonio area for us.

You know the name?
 
nddons said:
Trying to do my part and make it to the Jet Room at KMSM at least one weekend per month.

Sadly, at Waukesha, they are renovating the terminal this summer, and a restaurant was proposed for a new second floor. The entire concept was nixed by a County Board member (I believe) who said that "Airport restaurants never work."
Click to expand...
Idiots are everywhere.

I'm glad to hear the Jet Room is still going strong. Mary and I have one of their mugs, and always enjoyed our stops there.

Whatever happened to the restaurant in Janesville (JVL)?
 
Dallas Executive Airport (KRBD) is having a pancake breakfast for something like $5 tomorrow morning. It's apparently their first try at a fly-in that will be the 1st Saturday of the month.

Ryan
 
Jay Honeck said:
Idiots are everywhere.

I'm glad to hear the Jet Room is still going strong. Mary and I have one of their mugs, and always enjoyed our stops there.

Whatever happened to the restaurant in Janesville (JVL)?
Click to expand...


Their mugs are selling for $19.99, so they must be doing well at the Jet Room.

Kealy's Kafe left Janesville, and I don't think any restaurant moved into that space. They used to announce that on ATIS for the last couple of years, but I haven't been to JVL for at least a year.
 
Jay Honeck said:
Idiots are everywhere.

I'm glad to hear the Jet Room is still going strong. Mary and I have one of their mugs, and always enjoyed our stops there.

Whatever happened to the restaurant in Janesville (JVL)?
Click to expand...

I flew through Janeville in Sept of 2013, The restaurant was completely fenced in and inaccessable. Spoke to a guy at the one FBO we could find and he said he Airport Board had blocked the renovation of the airport restaurant. He said they used to get 20 to 30 airplanes a day on the weekends but the airport was pretty much dead while we were there. Ended up having to take a crew car to the golf course restaurant near by while we waited out storms for 3 hours.
 
It seems to work best if airport eateries have easy drive up access, besides those who fly in. The ones I see doing well get more from those that drive in, weather never a factor.
 
sourdough44 said:
It seems to work best if airport eateries have easy drive up access, besides those who fly in. The ones I see doing well get more from those that drive in, weather never a factor.
Click to expand...

This describes a popular on airport diner at Hicks Field (T67) near Alliance Fort Worth.

They serve an excellent menu and buffet for weekend breakfast/brunch/lunch and are elbow-to-elbow full of pilots and locals for the entire time.

So to be successful, that Gulfcoast location needs to promote himself to the local non-flying populace more than just waiting on us flyers.
 
sourdough44 said:
It seems to work best if airport eateries have easy drive up access, besides those who fly in. The ones I see doing well get more from those that drive in, weather never a factor.
Click to expand...

That's true -- the most successful on-field restaurants have a symbiotic relationship with the non-flying public. In short, they come out to see us. We fly in to eat. There simply aren't enough pilots to keep most restaurants going.

But you can't have one without the other. We need to show up and patronize them.
 
tmyers said:
I flew through Janeville in Sept of 2013, The restaurant was completely fenced in and inaccessable. Spoke to a guy at the one FBO we could find and he said he Airport Board had blocked the renovation of the airport restaurant. He said they used to get 20 to 30 airplanes a day on the weekends but the airport was pretty much dead while we were there. Ended up having to take a crew car to the golf course restaurant near by while we waited out storms for 3 hours.
Click to expand...

What a shame. We flew in there a bazillon times, and it was always the "go-to" place on Saturdays in Southeast Wisconsin.

He wasn't exaggerating. I remember two dozen planes on that ramp, regularly, and a line to get in the restaurant.
 
Jay Honeck said:
That's true -- the most successful on-field restaurants have a symbiotic relationship with the non-flying public. In short, they come out to see us. We fly in to eat. There simply aren't enough pilots to keep most restaurants going.
Click to expand...

Agree completely. Yesterday was the last day I could fly before self grounding for two weeks. I flew to Dexter, Mo and had breakfast at the Airways Cafe. It's on the field (even though foreflight lists it as 0.6 miles :dunno:) It was probably 75% full at 9:30 AM...and since it was a weekday there were only two planes on the ramp (counting mine). It was nice to see such local support. It's a pretty nice little diner with great breakfast.

Oh, and the 20 YO waitress (home from college) was gorgeous beyond description. That was a nice little bonus.
 
AggieMike88 said:
This describes a popular on airport diner at Hicks Field (T67) near Alliance Fort Worth.

They serve an excellent menu and buffet for weekend breakfast/brunch/lunch and are elbow-to-elbow full of pilots and locals for the entire time.

So to be successful, that Gulfcoast location needs to promote himself to the local non-flying populace more than just waiting on us flyers.
Click to expand...


Doesn't hurt that Beacon has fantastic food.
Not just breakfast either.

Go there and get a ruben or quesadilla at lunch.
mmmmmmmmm!
 
In order to make money in the restaurant business, you have to serve dinner and sell alcohol. Restaurants that don't do this are either notable landmarks, been there forever and own the real estate so no high rent payments, or they are hobby businesses.

Even if a peak of 100 pilots show up for breakfast one Saturday morning, how is the business going to make it if the average ticket is $7/person? A cook, labor, rent, food costs, etc. eat that $700 up quick.

Airport restaurants do work when 1) the locals show up in force, and 2) they have something to see. I'm always amazed to see eateries at airports with no view of the airfield.

At the end of the day though, a good restaurant is a good restaurant, no matter where it is. A typical Sysco breakfast special will bring out pilots for a bit, but not many others.
 
I support businesses that do a good job, I don't care if the owners have the same hobbies as me. Lots of hobby connected business have crappier product at higher prices, pseudo captive audience effect.
 
Brad Z said:
A typical Sysco breakfast special will bring out pilots for a bit, but not many others.
Click to expand...

Truer words were never spoken. Although that can be offset by price and quantity, if the former is low and the latter is high.

What I REALLY like about the new restaurant at LBX is that it's lunch and dinner. not a breakfast joint. Because of my work schedule, mornings simply don't exist for me, so all the restaurants that advertise "breakfast till noon" simply don't get my business.

"Breakfast all day"? You bet -- I'm there! I can eat breakfast any time. But I'm especially tickled when we get a quality fly-in lunch and dinner place. (I also think that's why Brenham's Southern Flyer restaurant is so successful.)

I hope this guy does well. :)
 
When did it reopen? I flew down there to eat a few months ago after hearing about it just to find it closed.
 
RyanShort1 said:
Dallas Executive Airport (KRBD) is having a pancake breakfast for something like $5 tomorrow morning. It's apparently their first try at a fly-in that will be the 1st Saturday of the month.

Ryan
Click to expand...
Strange that they'd start that on the same day as the annual pancake breakfast at JWY. As for restaurants, I don't know how anyone could stay in business at a small airport relying on fly in traffic.
 
mkosmo said:
When did it reopen? I flew down there to eat a few months ago after hearing about it just to find it closed.
Click to expand...

Last week. But the guy owns another restaurant, so he knows what he's doing. Both the food and service were great.
 
Jay Honeck said:
That's true -- the most successful on-field restaurants have a symbiotic relationship with the non-flying public. In short, they come out to see us. We fly in to eat. There simply aren't enough pilots to keep most restaurants going.

But you can't have one without the other. We need to show up and patronize them.
Click to expand...

You hit the nail on the head.

We are lucky enough to have an onsite restaurant at our home drome (1C5- Charlie's). Decent food and decent service. Problem is, they only market to pilots... it is tucked away from the main road so no passers-by have any idea they exist. No main road signage, etc. It's really a pilot-only restaurant. Well, now our airport is closed down for the summer for a new runway and I'm really nervous that Charlie's won't survive it.
 
To make a go of it, airport restaurants have to first be good at being restaurants and welcome everyone. They just happen to be at an airport which helps us hungry aviators out.

Most that can't pull in the non-flying locals die off eventually.
 
The restaurant business is tough, regardless of location.
 
flyersfan31 said:
The restaurant business is tough, regardless of location.
Click to expand...
For sure. I've looked at restaurants many times, as business opportunities, and always walked away shaking my head.

But my point is simply this: If we want cool places to fly, we must support the people who build these businesses. I will eat at a good on-field restaurant instead of an excellent off-field one, every time, simply because they are there.

Too many pilots turn their noses up and simply write them off after a single non-stellar experience, dooming them to an early death. I hold on-field restaurants to a different standard, simply because of the dedication they are showing to pilots by even being open.
 
We are heading to the Runway Cafe for a midafternoon early dinner. They are open till 8 PM tonight!
 
Jay Honeck said:
We are heading to the Runway Cafe for a midafternoon early dinner. They are open till 8 PM tonight!
Click to expand...
Here's the restaurant as we departed. Despite the construction, you can park right out front.

f5a422c30defe2c56cc42e6e6bad04d3.jpg


Here's the amazing red snapper and shrimp I had today. I live on an island in the Gulf with great fresh seafood, and this was outstanding seafood.

18773295ba8251fb3242cc39d83acda1.jpg


The owner (Yanara Ou) and one of the wait staff (Annabelle) seem to really like flying machines!

eabb49e7d684b446b3052569525e7bde.jpg


It was simply a gorgeous day to fly along the islands...

62ade39d0334151d996b9d80106b6861.jpg
 
For the Runway Cafe to make it, they're going to have to advertise outside of aviation. Anyone can drive up to KLBX, but they'd have to specifically know about the place to do so. Bummer, because other than the on-field traffic, Angleton isn't exactly a huge city.

The Black Walnut at KCXO (Conroe, TX) is the right idea because there's more than one location. It's familiar to people, has outside-the-fence access, and delivers a quality product and location.

I don't know why there aren't more through-the-fence establishments in the Houston area, as many airports are located close to huge swaths of the populous.

Hopefully the Runway Cafe makes it long term... I imagine it will last a while because it's the new lunch/dinner place for Houston area pilots to fly. However, it's gonna take more than that once the new wears off. We'll see what happens.
 
FlyingIsGood said:
For the Runway Cafe to make it, they're going to have to advertise outside of aviation. Anyone can drive up to KLBX, but they'd have to specifically know about the place to do so. Bummer, because other than the on-field traffic, Angleton isn't exactly a huge city.

The Black Walnut at KCXO (Conroe, TX) is the right idea because there's more than one location. It's familiar to people, has outside-the-fence access, and delivers a quality product and location.

I don't know why there aren't more through-the-fence establishments in the Houston area, as many airports are located close to huge swaths of the populous.

Hopefully the Runway Cafe makes it long term... I imagine it will last a while because it's the new lunch/dinner place for Houston area pilots to fly. However, it's gonna take more than that once the new wears off. We'll see what happens.
Click to expand...


Part of the problem is the airport. I've trained there a bunch of times. It always looks deserted. The stats show it as a very busy airport, but I have no idea where everyone is when you actually land there.:dunno:

I didn't share the opinion that the last restaurant was as good as Jay felt it was. Plenty of places I liked better, and I do patronize those!

Jay - I will take my family there for dinner in the next couple of weeks. Promise. We've been looking for a reason to go somewhere and I despise restaurant "chain food". :yesnod: We almost never go out to eat locally. Katy is the home of the chain restaurant...
 
Local business is certainly as important as fly in business. We have two nearby that do a good job of it. The Flying Machine at KLZU has been around for a number of years and the Runway Cafe at KGMU does well.

We also have the Downwind at KPDK and the Elevation Chophouse at KRYY. I don't frequent those often but they remain in business.
 
retailguy said:
Part of the problem is the airport. I've trained there a bunch of times. It always looks deserted. The stats show it as a very busy airport, but I have no idea where everyone is when you actually land there.:dunno:

I didn't share the opinion that the last restaurant was as good as Jay felt it was. Plenty of places I liked better, and I do patronize those!

Jay - I will take my family there for dinner in the next couple of weeks. Promise. We've been looking for a reason to go somewhere and I despise restaurant "chain food". :yesnod: We almost never go out to eat locally. Katy is the home of the chain restaurant...
Click to expand...
I think part of the reason LBX seems deserted is that it's a sprawling monster of an airport, with hangars for helicopters, Dow airliners, bizjets, and regular hangars stretching the entire length of the runway.

Another issue: The FBO is government operated, and about as welcoming as a mafia loanshark. They've got their new bazillion dollar terminal building, their cash cow (Dow), and the guys behind the counter appear to regard GA as something of a mildly amusing nuisance. We once made the mistake of going in there 5 minutes before closing, and the lady would barely acknowledge our presence.

BTW: The previous restaurant had the best pablano soup I've ever had. I never had anything but good food there.

But, anyway, the new restaurant owner is a hoot. I found out why his seafood is so good -- he also owns Baytown Seafood. Here's a pic he posted of us on his FB page:

0824295ae93e812458f9cfc75e95e015.jpg
 
Jay Honeck said:
For sure. I've looked at restaurants many times, as business opportunities, and always walked away shaking my head.

But my point is simply this: If we want cool places to fly, we must support the people who build these businesses. I will eat at a good on-field restaurant instead of an excellent off-field one, every time, simply because they are there.

Too many pilots turn their noses up and simply write them off after a single non-stellar experience, dooming them to an early death. I hold on-field restaurants to a different standard, simply because of the dedication they are showing to pilots by even being open.
Click to expand...

I agree. But if you are going to open a restaurant catering to an ever-shrinking aviation population, you had better have a Plan B that includes catering to the general populace too. And they (as you well know from your line of work) are less willing to hold their noses just because there is an aviation link.
 
flyersfan31 said:
I agree. But if you are going to open a restaurant catering to an ever-shrinking aviation population, you had better have a Plan B that includes catering to the general populace too. And they (as you well know from your line of work) are less willing to hold their noses just because there is an aviation link.
Click to expand...
Absolutely. There is no way to make a living solely off of pilots, either in restaurants or hotels. There simply aren't enough of us to really matter, anymore.

But....there are MILLIONS of aviation enthusiasts and wannabe pilots who will patronize an aviation themed business. That's the target the new guy at LBX needs to hit, and he knows it.

In our business, for example, as we've grown the pilot-portion of our customer base has diminished as a percentage of the whole. These last five months, when cross country flying was reduced to near-zero by bad weather, have been our best since we opened five years ago.

Sadly for GA, relying solely on pilots is a business dead end, nowadays. Luckily, pretty much everyone loves the romance of aviation, even if they hate flying.
 
Jay Honeck said:
I think part of the reason LBX seems deserted is that it's a sprawling monster of an airport, with hangars for helicopters, Dow airliners, bizjets, and regular hangars stretching the entire length of the runway.

Another issue: The FBO is government operated, and about as welcoming as a mafia loanshark. They've got their new bazillion dollar terminal building, their cash cow (Dow), and the guys behind the counter appear to regard GA as something of a mildly amusing nuisance. We once made the mistake of going in there 5 minutes before closing, and the lady would barely acknowledge our presence.
Click to expand...

Never even ventured into the new building. I've seen it, but didn't go in. In the past, I would occasionally ask for an airport advisory, then listen to the crickets. I thought the place was never staffed either.

So when I saw the numbers of takeoffs and landings, and heck, the number planes stored there, it initially didn't make sense. But, this does, so I guess I understand better now.

Jay Honeck said:
BTW: The previous restaurant had the best pablano soup I've ever had. I never had anything but good food there.
Click to expand...

Everything I ever ordered there came out of a frozen box. I honestly never tried the soup. While there was nothing wrong with the food, anything I ate wasn't home made, but rather it was re-heated.

Maybe I just eat the wrong things..:dunno: You're really my Doctor, aren't you?:yikes:

Jay Honeck said:
But, anyway, the new restaurant owner is a hoot. I found out why his seafood is so good -- he also owns Baytown Seafood.
Click to expand...

Can't wait to meet him. I spent 10+ years in Washington State. I love seafood, but Washington has made me a bit picky. :yes:
 
Almost every airport restaurant that I know of that has any amount of success gets a hefty slug of business from the non-aviation crowd.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top