Airport set to unveil new restaurant
New flights, new land available, a new runway, a new terminal and now a new menu — things are happening at Medicine Hat Regional Airport.
The city and Front Porch Classics Catering have finalized a lease to add breakfast and lunch service at the terminal.
The issue was heard by development and infrastructure committee Wednesday and will go to council for final approval on Dec. 4.
If so, local restaurateur and caterer Keith Bachler plans to be cooking at 4 a.m. Wednesday.
“The airport hasn’t had a stable occupant in there since the new terminal opened,” Bachler told the News.
“There’s not much for restaurants beyond fast food on this side of the Trans Canada. There’s a lot of potential.”
He plans to offer all-day breakfast, a lunch menu and a hot feature each day, with all food, soups and baked goods made fresh entirely on site, seven days a week.
He predicts a catering operation — run out of the commercial kitchen there — will account for about twothirds of his business, and hopes the community at large will stop in to try it.
“We’re open seven days a week and we’re making everything from scratch,” he said. “That’s a little different, homemade and in house.”
During debate on the terminal expansion design in 2012, user groups at the airport said commercial kitchen and seating was a prerequisite, if only to advertise the airport as being a step above a regular regional airstrip.
The city previously leased the space to a food provider, who mainly provided takeaway fare, and that arrangement was ended in October by the tenant.
“The name of the game is providing as many amenities and conveniences to travellers as we can,” said airport manager Jeff Huntus of the potential lease with Front Porch. “We have a good opportunity to enhance that right now (with a restaurant).”
Bachler plans to operate from 4:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, then afternoon service on Sundays, serving travellers and staff and other air companies.
Under the proposed oneyear lease, with options for renewal, rent will consist of 7.5 per cent of gross income, including catering that will be prepared at the airport kitchen.
Coun. Jim Turner, vicechair of the development committee, said the new lease is the latest in a string of good news for the airport.
“It’s good to see,” said Turner. “It’s very positive and this will be very nice to have.”
Late last week WestJet announced the Hat would join four other cities in its regional carrier, WestJet Link, offering service three times daily during the week to Calgary, and discounted rates to those making connections with the airlines other planes.
Discussions on leasing ticket booth or office space at the airport still have to take place, said Huntus, but should be straight forward.
Land development
Officials with the city’s land department announced this year it would begin prepping land at the airport main entrance for commercial development.
Officials tell the News this week the demolition of the old terminal building should get underway this month.
Work will begin in the spring to develop publicly accessible commercial lots on 6 to 8 acres of land between the airport and Gershaw Drive.
Final design is not set, but land department officials state that between five and eight lots could be created for highway commercial or airport related businesses.