Studio D Catering will take over the vacant Jamestown airport restaurant. Photo by Gregory Bacon
After years of being vacant, the Chautauqua County Airport in Jamestown will soon have a new business.
At last week’s County Legislature meeting, Studio D Catering was given permission to lease Jamestown Airport’s catering facilities starting today for $500 per month. The lease is good for six months.
Studio D Catering is owned by Diana Scott of Mayville. In a letter she wrote to the legislature, Scott noted that she had been in business since 2015. In 2021, she lost her lease for her location in downtown Jamestown.
She likes the location at 313 Airport Dr. in the town of Ellicott.
“We believe the Jamestown Airport Restaurant would be a perfect fit as we expand our private catering, begin offering take-out breakfasts and lunches to over 150 employees within a 3-mile radius of the airport, local small businesses and artisans in a 716-themed gift shop, and fostering a unique event space for private parties and our own special events,” Scott wrote.
Scott noted that Studio D Catering has been a “tremendous force of generosity and hospitality” since their launch seven years ago. They have extensive restaurant experience, have operated a food truck, hosted several community events “and donated generously to our local shelters and emergency service providers.”
Ahead of the vote, county airport manager Shannon Barnhart said she supported Studio D Catering’s request.
“We are very happy to have someone there who already has a good reputation in the community,” she says.
Lawmaker Bob Scudder, R-Fredonia, said he favors the lease. “It’s exciting. It’s good to see businesses moving into the airport and generating revenue for the county,” he said.
Lawmaker David Wilfong, R-Jamestown, said the catering company could help bring commercial air service back to Jamestown. “We already have an in-house food preparation business there. Perhaps they could provide take-out goods for travelers to and from Jamestown,” he said.
Jamestown has been without commercial air service since 2017. Last year, the county legislature voted against funding a study into essential air services. This was before Wilfong took the oath. No lawmakers responded Wednesday to Wilfong’s comments.
The Tarmac Cafe had been at the airport but left in September 2016 after doing business there for three years.
