Future of Santa Barbara Airport restaurant is up in the air
A restaurant operating at the Santa Barbara Airport might be closing its doors.
The owner of High Sierra Grill and Bar sent a letter dated Aug. 15, informing Santa Barbara Airport Director Henry Thomas the business would be closing on Sunday Aug. 18, but it didn’t happen.
The restaurant has been operating under the name Flightline Lounge for months, but the lease has not been reassigned.
The airport director sent a lengthy letter explaining the lack of investors made that unlikely to happen.
That didn’t sit well with restaurant patrons who spoke out at the airport’s Wednesday night meeting.
“Quite frankly this city, this airport administration is stepping on my toes and I don’t appreciate it one bit,” Goleta native Steve Siry said. Siry is also an investor.
“I don’t think they care about anything aviation related at this airport other than having cake with Delta airlines.”
Warren Butler has been running it as the Flightline Lounge for months and hopes to take over the lease.
“The bottom line: we are open and I want to keep the place open and somehow work out a deal where everyone is happy,” said Butler.
It appears the airport has other people interested in investing in the land.
The airport denied the lease reassignment but the public outcry could help change minds.
Veterans and pilots use it as a meeting place.
John Blankenship, of the Pierre Claeyyssens Foundation, has filled the meeting rooms with his collection of military photos, and medals. It looks a bit like a military museum.
“My dad and I flew in here in 1953. I was 11 years old,” Blankenship said.
He hopes they give Butler a chance.
“I hate to see the doors close, because people work here, this is a business Santa Barbara needs.”
Workers said about 30 to 40 jobs are at stake.
City Council Member Jason Dominguez would like to see a compromise.
“No one wants the restaurant to close. They are working out the details, how we can make the numbers work, bring in people we need to keep the restaurant open, I think we are getting close,” said Dominguez.
No decisions were made during the meeting. A formal decision could be weeks away.
