Bridgeport is about to lose a restaurant, but it’s not actually going out of business. Parker’s on the Runway, which is based in the terminal building at the North Central West Virginia Airport, has confirmed that his last day of operation at the building will be Dec. 21.

 

Parker’s has been in operation since August 13, 2014. The two-plus year run is one of the longest of several restaurants that have tried to make a go of things at the facility located on the second floor.

 

“We’ll be leaving here, but we won’t be closing up shop,” said Parker Fulton, the owner and operator of the business. “We’ll be moving to downtown Clarksburg.”

 

Early in 2017, most likely in January, Parker’s on the Runway will become Parker’s 4^th Street Restaurant. He’ll be looking to find success in a building that has had a handful of restaurants unable to make a go of it at that location.

 

Unlike his predecessors at the airport, Fulton isn’t leaving the business because things are failing. Instead, he said he wanted to make sure he could continue to operate a restaurant.

 

While that may sound confusing, it isn’t. Recently, the North Central West Virginia Airport’s governing body, the Benedum Airport Authority, agreed to bid the space that Fulton was leasing. While NCWV Director Rick Rock and Authority members had words of praise for Parker’s on the Runway and were hoping they were going to bid to continue operations, Fulton didn’t want to take the chance.

 

“I decided it was best to go elsewhere and know I could continue,” said Fulton.

 

Ironically, the airport will review any bids they receive on the space at the Authority’s Dec. 21 meeting. Bids are due Dec. 14. As of Tuesday, Rock said no bids were received.

 

“It’s not unusual for bids not to arrive until late so we’re hopeful we’ll have some options,” said Rock.

 

To date, Rock said there has only been one group that has expressed interest in operating the location. He said the group in question represents what he called a “regional restaurant” brand.

 

“They actually came in and looked at the facility. Hopefully, they’ll bid. Right now, that’s where we’re at in the process,” said Rock. “We haven’t heard anything from anyone else even though that doesn’t mean someone won’t bid. Prior to advertising, we did hear from others that were interested in that space. Whether they bid remains to be seen.”

 

Fulton said he’s already began letting his clientele know he’s leaving. And he’s already working an expanded menu that he hopes will include prime rib, St. Louis style ribs, half chickens, pasta dishes with seafood medley in white wine sauce and Alfredo dishes.

 

“I don’t know exactly what the menu will include, but it will have our favorites here and a lot of other items,” he said.

 

Fulton said the restaurant is still open seven days a week until Dec. 21. He also said individuals that purchased gift certificates from their “50 Percent Friday” may want to use them by that date.

 

As for the airport, Rock said he thinks things will be fine. Although the preference is for a restaurant to go into the space soon to be vacated by Parker’s, he said other uses could come from the area.

 

“The restaurant leaving won’t affect our financial position … but we know a lot of locals enjoyed his food and the atmosphere and we wish him the best of luck,” said Rock. “As for the traveling public, we’ll still have our snack bar (the Snack Shack) in the waiting area and hopefully we’ll have a replacement soon. If not, we’ll evaluate the situation and put that space to the highest and best use possible.”

 

Editor's Note: Parker Fulton is shown putting the finishing touches on a pair of hoagies, while NCWV Airport Director Rick Rock is shown below.