New Restaurant Proposed at Jamestown Airport

For the third time in three years, a new restaurant is being proposed for the Jamestown airport. The proposed business, Archies Airport Diner, LLC, has requested a one-year lease with the option to renew at the end of the term. A public hearing has been scheduled for January 28th at 6:35 p. m. at the Chautauqua County Legislative Chambers in Mayville to discuss the rental agreement.

Previous Attempts

In November 2024, Basil & Bones, a catering company, had signed a six-month lease with the option for an extension at a higher rent. However, after their lease expired, they decided against opening a traditional restaurant at the airport. Before Basil & Bones, Studio Catering D had been leasing the space, but they left in September of that same year. The Tarmac Cafe, which was at the airport for three years, also closed in September 2016 when commercial flights stopped operating at Jamestown airport.

Challenges for a Restaurant at the Airport

One of the main challenges for a restaurant at the Jamestown airport is the lack of commercial flights. The airport has been without commercial air service since 2018. This has made it difficult for restaurants to sustain themselves as they heavily rely on the passenger traffic from commercial flights. The county has been working with a consultant to explore the possibility of bringing back commercial air service to Jamestown.

Current Updates

The last update provided to the county legislature was in December 2024, and since then, a new manager, John Machemer, has been hired for both the Jamestown and Dunkirk airports. In July, Machemer informed the legislators that the consultants were still working on bringing back commercial air service, but there were no new developments to report.

New Manager Requests Public Hearing

During the December meeting, John Machemer, the new manager, requested a public hearing to discuss the proposed lease for Archies Airport Diner. However, no details were provided on how the diner would operate. The public hearing has been scheduled for January 28th at 6:35 p. m. at the Chautauqua County Legislative Chambers in Mayville.

Conclusion

Jamestown airport has seen multiple attempts at opening a restaurant in the past few years. However, due to the lack of commercial flights, it has been challenging for these businesses to sustain themselves. The county is exploring the possibility of bringing back commercial air service, and a public hearing has been scheduled to discuss the proposed lease for Archies Airport Diner. The hearing is set for January 28th at 6:35 p. m. at the Chautauqua County Legislative Chambers in Mayville.