Watch planes and helicopters take off and land, while having a fantastic meal or playing at a free aviation park. That is what the Greenville Downtown Airport Commission would like to provide as a new amenity at GMU, South Carolina’s busiest GA airport.
“You can always find people watching our airport activity at one of our free observation areas and we get a lot of requests for hangar parties,” said Tracy Holden, manager of TAC Air. “People of all ages love to see aviation in action. The airport is fun during the day and the runway lights are beautiful at night.”
To capitalize on that “fun factor,” the airport commission is actively seeking a restaurant entrepreneur, according to Joe Frasher, airport director.
“Many general aviation airports have very popular restaurants,” he said. ‘We have never had one and feel that it would be a huge success! We look forward to providing a fun place where our community and fly-in guests can enjoy the world of aviation.”
The airport has a building that is available and is located close to the busiest runway, he noted. Pilots could park their planes right in front of the restaurant. The building has room for outdoor seating, a large hangar (for hangar parties), and plenty of automobile parking.
Beside the proposed restaurant is some land where a park could be built. The free public park may have a playground, picnic pavilion, walking trail and retired aircraft on display.
“We envision a set up similar to the one at the Peachtree Dekalb Airport (PDK) in Atlanta,” said Lara Kaufman, GMU’s marketing director. “It has picnic tables, a viewing stand, playground equipment and restrooms. We have had several park designs made and are just waiting for our future restaurant tenant to help make the final design decisions.”
GMU is home to more than 25 aviation-related businesses, which create 453 jobs that annually contribute more than $35.2 million to the local economy.
For more information: 864-242-4777 or GreenvilleDowntownAirport.com
