Sacramento County to Oust Local Restaurant from Sac Executive Airport after 24 Years?

A local restaurant owner in a unique location – at the Sacramento Executive Airport – could lose his lease and be ousted after 24 years in the same spot. Aviators Restaurant, which has been a local gem for nearly a quarter of a century was just notified that Sacramento County is not renewing the restaurant owner’s lease, which expires at the end of January.

The owner, Chik, survived the COVID business lockdowns, and is now faced with losing his location – and cool Aviation theme.

My husband and his twice-weekly tennis gang enjoy a hearty breakfast and bottomless cups of hot coffee at Aviators Restaurant after they play – and have for 15 years. Their favorite waitress knows all of their orders and has become such a good friend, they offered to help fill in for her while she was on her honeymoon recently.

Theirs isn’t the only regular group – there are retired police, retired pilots, neighbors, and many groups of locals who meet there regularly – and have for years. They love the aviation theme, with good sized model airplanes hanging from the ceiling. You can sit at a window table and watch planes take off and land.

The prices are good, as is the food. The atmosphere is friendly and feels like a local bar, “where everyone knows your name” like the Cheers bar.

When my husband came home last week and announced that the County was not going to renew owner Chik’s lease, the regulars were livid. Husband had been told that the county announced to the owner that he needed to start serving breakfast, lunch and dinner – he currently serves breakfast and lunch – and he’d need to get a full liquor license – at over $100,000 a pop.

And the County was opening up the bidding process and taking bids from other restaurants. It’s difficult not to question whether someone has their eye on this location…

This is one of those moments where the local government disconnect from the leaseholder’s business is a problem. Aviators Restaurant is a small business, but with a big presence and a loyal following. It’s a shame that whoever made the decision not to renew Chik’s lease didn’t first visit his restaurant and enjoy a meal with friends or colleagues. He’s not just a name they don’t know and a monthly lease amount – there is daily camaraderie and a lot of life at Aviators Restaurant. And obviously Chik not only has paid his lease on time for 24 years, the fact that he survived the COVID “non-essential” business lockdowns shows his fortitude – he is a tenant I’d keep because I can count on him.

Some patrons even started a petition to show support for keeping Aviators Restaurant where it is.

KCRA did a nice story about it and said this:

But instead of renewing Chik’s lease at the end of January, it’s taking a request for bids for other dining options.

“By their regulations, they have to put up for bid every so often, but I don’t know the rules,” Chik said.

He said this is the first time he’s hearing this since the year 2000 when he took over the space.

“Every time, they just renew it for me. I don’t have any problem to renew,” Chik said.

I have been contacted by many Sacramento residents who are Aviator Restaurant patrons, asking me to look into this, and for additional information. So I contacted the Sacramento County Department of Airports with the following questions:

• Why would the Sacramento County Department of Airports seek to oust a long-time tenant with a regular following?
• Was the original lease for 24 years? Or was it a multi-year lease which required approval every few years?
• While you recognize that “Aviators is a cherished airport restaurant that has been serving the Executive Airport community for nearly 25 years,” you go on to say “However, we also have a responsibility to ensure the best use of the restaurant space, the highest quality and safety standards, and the diverse needs and preferences of the public and bidding requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).” What?
• Offering the restaurant owner a month-to-month rent is untenable for a restaurant – why make this impossible offer?
• Are you seeking to increase the cost of his lease?

The Department of Airports got right back to me with this statement from Stephen Clark – Deputy Director of Commercial Development, Sacramento County Department of Airports:

Here’s our statement. Let me know if you need anything else. We won’t be issuing any additional comments at this time. Thank you for reaching out.

The current lease for Aviator’s Restaurant expires on Jan 31, 2024, after being in place for 24 years. The Sacramento County Department of Airports (SCDA), which oversees the lease, intends to continue operations with the current leaseholder, who remains in good standing on a month-to-month basis.

No impacts to customers are expected and the restaurant will remain open to the public during this time.

During this brief period, the Department intends to complete community survey work to understand customer expectations and allow for a public solicitation process to be held. The Department intends to continue to provide the public with an approachable and affordable dining option that celebrates the Airport’s rich aviation heritage. The Airport will not require a change to the Aviators aesthetic or concept. The Department expects this process to begin in the first quarter of 2024 when a Request for Bid (RFB) is released. 

A link to the survey is here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2NV6CC9

Sacramento International Airport, which is also managed by SCDA, is currently going through a Food and Beverage Request for Proposal (RFP) process for 18 restaurant terminal spaces. The RFP is a routine administrative process utilized throughout the County for awarding operating agreements. The County determines the best use of a space and then seeks proposals from experienced operators for each location.

Aviators is a cherished airport restaurant that has been serving the Executive Airport community for nearly 25 years. However, we also have a responsibility to ensure the best use of the restaurant space, the highest quality and safety standards, and the diverse needs and preferences of the public and bidding requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). 

The current operator remains in good standing, and airport leadership welcomes and has actively encouraged the operator to participate in the competitive bidding process.

This lease’s expiration is not a part of a broader change at Sacramento Executive Airport. Instead, it is a routine administrative procedure. The FAA encourages airports to periodically reevaluate their concession agreements to increase the opportunities for Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) participation and to respond to changing market conditions and customer preferences. 

KCRA received the same statement from the County.

That the Sacramento International Airport, also managed by SCDA, is currently going through a Food and Beverage Request for Proposal process for 18 restaurant terminal spaces should have no bearing on the one restaurant at the small Sacramento Executive Airport.

Here is the county’s online survey –  and here is Aviators Restaurant patron Liv Moe’s online petition (both are linked in the KCRA article).

We will update the story. We and the patrons of Aviators Restaurant are hoping that Sacramento County Department of Airports recognize the local gem they have in tenancy at the Sacramento Executive Airport.