Hopes that the sudden closure of WACO Kitchen at Lakeland Linder International Airport was only temporary disappeared Monday.
Airport Director Chris Hallstrand said the city sent owner Dimor Eats LLC a “notice of remediation” last month urging it to comply with its contractual obligations to serve food and beverages at least six days a week. Ta. There was no response. The city then sent a five-day eviction notice, but again there was no response.
“We're basically done,” Hallstrand said Monday at the city's annual strategic planning retreat.
What can replace the WACO kitchen? Hallstrand said the situation is legally complex, but she and Airport Director Adam Lunn are fielding inquiries from about 50 different restaurant owners. “We're going to move forward and find the best option for the airport,” she said.
Can I open a new restaurant before passenger service begins? Avero's first passenger flight is scheduled to depart from Lakeland to New Haven, Conn., on June 13, and Mayor Bill Mutz asked if the new restaurant could open by then. Hallstrand said he doesn't expect that, but the airport may attract some food truck installations in the short term.
What went wrong? Aviation enthusiast Dieter Morschek opened WACO Kitchen in the summer of 2022. But the upscale restaurant, which serves farm-to-table cuisine, stopped serving cocktails at its full bar in mid-March, citing liquor license issues.
In April, Mr. Hallstrand was notified of the split between Germany-based Dimol Group and Dimol Eats. The German group was in talks to buy Dimor Eats. It is unclear why the deal fell apart, but it led to the restaurant's closure.
