After decades of having a restaurant at the North Central West Virginia Airport, but few having much success after the 9/11 attacks, it appears a full-scale eatery may not be in the future at the facility. That will be the case if a recommendation made at Wednesday’s meeting of the Benedum Airport Authority moves forward.

 

The Authority, the airport’s governing body, addressed an item on the agenda that was listed as “changes to restaurant.” And those changes likely won’t involve a full-service restaurant, according to NCWV Airport Director Rick Rock.

 

“We believe we can put the space to a better and much more needed use,” said Rock.

 

The space became empty at the end of 2016. At that time Parker’s on the Runway, the latest of restaurants to fill the space, closed their doors and relocated to 4^th Street in Clarksburg. They will open later this month as Parkers on 4^th Street.

 

Parker’s opened at the airport on August 13, 2014. However, when the Authority approved a proposal to bid the space out being occupied by the eatery operated by Parker Fulton, Fulton opted not to bid on it. The problem, however, was that when proposals from the existing restaurant or others were due on Dec. 14 none arrived.

 

“We didn’t receive any proposals, but we have had a few inquiries since the bid deadline arrived,” said Rock.

 

Either the inquiries weren’t serious or Rock’s concerns about needing space were more valid than trying to find a successful restaurant. Currently, the Authority meets in the secure area for flights out of the airport at a time when there are no flights. Also, the administrative offices of Rock and his staff are crammed into a second floor space.

 

“I’d like to see our engineer design something that would allow for us to have meeting, or conference space as well as additional office space,” said Rock.

 

So what does that mean for those that would like a bite to eat prior to or after a flight? Currently, the secure area has the Snack Shack, where flyers can get something to hold them over before boarding their flights and reaching a destination. Rock also said that the restaurant space formerly occupied by Parker’s could also have a “Snack Shack II” that would be open for people wanting something to hold them over that may be waiting for a flight and not having access to the secure area where passengers wait after TSA screening.

 

Authority President Ron Watson was concerned with the investment made by the Authority in the airport property. Equipment and upgrades were done and the space is laid out for a full-scale restaurant with most of the amenities needed.

 

Watson, however, agreed with Rock and the rest of the Authority that looking at utilizing the space for a different use is a good idea. He headed a motion to have airport engineer Chad Biller, P.E., of the Thrasher Group to get that process started.

 

Prior to 9/11, a restaurant operated and flourished at the spot. After that, when air traffic in rural areas began to plummet, the airport went through several establishments none of which seemed to last long. The two-plus year run of Parker's proved to be one of the longest.

 

More from this meeting later on Connect-Bridgeport.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Authority President Ron Watson, while Airport Engineer Chad Biller is shown below.