Another restaurateur is going to try to make a business fly at North Central West Virginia Regional Airport.

At today’s Benedum Airport Authority meeting, Robert Heislip, owner and operator of Roberto’s Restaurant – located at Bridgeport’s Johnson Center before being burned out last month – said he  believed he could establish a popular eatery at the airport location.

The airport authority voted unanimously to give Heislip’s restaurant vision a go and to give Airport Director Rick Rock authority to enter into an agreement with the business owner based on terms not less favorable than the immediately preceding tenant.

Roberto’s was the only restaurant to respond to the airport’s request for proposal with regard to the launch of a new restaurant in the airport’s upper floor.

A presence at the airport would meet a variety of needs for both the restaurant and the city’s residents, Heislip said.

“When Johnson Center recently burned, my restaurant was not severely damaged, but I did suffer a loss and it would be 10 months to a year before I was back up and running,” he said. “It was brought to my attention that this restaurant was leasable at the time, I inquired about it and decided I would like to do it … It would be a crucial development point for this airport.”

He said he is confident that his food and service quality, combined with his hospitality skills, would be very received.

The new restaurant would feature menu items of the Johnson Center location, plus some extra food items. In addition to his signature Italian pasta dishes and pizza, Heislip tossed around the idea of serving hamburgers and hotdogs, pepperoni rolls, some new salads and specialty croissants.

“And while people are waiting for their flights, they could have a drink and some finger foods,” he said.

Heislip said he plans to get involved with the WVU football program and cater to their dining needs while traveling. He also envisions a delivery service which would be available to businesses, including the FBI and United Hospital Center. He plans to serve a lunch-time buffet for the eat-in crowd and perhaps even a brown bag lunch option.

“The kitchen is huge and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be utilized in the proper manner. I have a walk-in cooler, hood vents, grills and pizza ovens,” he said. “This could be a place for families to eat lunch and dinner, bring the kids and watch the planes take off.”

Heislip said he originally planned to reopen his Johnson Center location in a year or so, but if the airport location is successful, he will stay as long as it works.

Mayor Jim Christie, airport authority member, said what makes Roberto’s different than previous restaurant tenants is that Heislip has already established a nice clientele.

Proposed hours will be 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

“We’ll start there and see where it goes,” Heislip said.

Heislip is shooting for a mid-June opening date. More information will be provided when it becomes available.

 

Pictured are some of those in attendance at today's Benedum Airport Authority meeting held at North Central WV Airport. More news from the meeting to be reported soon on Connect-Bridgeport.