Nov. 2—LAKELAND — On Monday, the Lakeland City Commission approved a new restaurant at the airport and the expansion of The Joinery downtown.
The commission unanimously approved a lease agreement for DiMor Eats LLC to open a new farm-to-table restaurant called Waco Kitchen at Lakeland Linder International Airport, where there has been a vacancy for more than two years. The proposal was previously green lit by the Lakeland Real Estate and Transportation Committee, chaired by Commissioner Bill Read, on Friday.
DiMor Eats is based out of West Palm Beach and registered to Sven Lepschy, president and CEO of aircraft manufacturer WACO Aircraft Group based in Battle Creek, Michigan. That city is the site of the original Waco Kitchen, which opened in January and has been immensely popular, Lepschy said.
Airport Director Gene Conrad told commissioners Monday that WACO is a "world-renowned" aircraft builder that creates planes that look like antiques but are actually brand-new aircraft. Lepschy said the company produces about six airplanes a year.
Conrad told commissioners the restaurant will be a welcome addition to the airport because "really, there's nothing" in the area for lunch or dinner opportunities, despite the many employees at places like Publix and Geico that work in the area.
"We're excited to get this going," Conrad said. "We believe we've got a great operator who's obviously going to invest a significant amount of money into this facility."
Conrad said in response to a question from Commissioner Stephanie Madden that the restaurant will accommodate reservations and will have space for big groups, especially for events previously popular in the space for holidays like Mother's Day. Conrad added that DiMor anticipates serving 400 people a day in the restaurant and an additional 600 through takeout orders, which may include deliveries through an app.
DiMor plans to completely gut the existing restaurant and rebuild it from scratch with a larger footprint, an endeavor expected to cost about $3.5 million. Regardless of the success of Waco Kitchen, the airport will reap the benefits of the overhaul, including the installation of new kitchen appliances.
That was the main reason DiMor won the bid for the restaurant over local applicant Nom Nom Enterprises LLC. Nom Nom is registered to Russell Colleran, owner and executive chef of Highland City Diner.
"I can appreciate again the dollars, the upfront dollars that are being put in by the venture that's going forward," Commissioner Phillip Walker said. "This looks like it's going to be a good thing."
In exchange for DiMor's investment — totaled at $2.7 million in improvements and $700,000 in furniture and equipment, according to the lease — the airport is going to subsidize $1.25 million of the up-front renovation costs in the form of rent credits, which equates to about 15 years of rent.
Conrad previously told commissioners at Friday's agenda study that the restaurant was not a profit generator for the airport in the past and currently costs the airport $1,500 a month to sit vacant.
Waco Kitchen is set to open by March 31 in time for Lakeland Linder's annual Sun 'n Fun celebration. The restaurant will feature a bar serving beer, wine and liquor and a menu similar to the one in Battle Creek with a larger emphasis on fish.
Lepschy said he anticipates the restaurant will add 30-40 new jobs to the area. More than 3,000 people work at the airport, according to Conrad.
The commission also approved plans for Lakeland's popular food hall The Joinery to expand. The commission voted 6-1, with Read voting against.
The approval allows 640 Main Partners, the LLC that owns The Joinery and the adjacent building, to purchase the 0.19-acre parcel behind its parking lot from the city for $125,000. One of Read's criticisms of the proposal is that he thinks the city should be charging more for the land.
The purchase also includes some right-of-way to the south of the property at 678 E. Main Street. The combination of the new parcel and The Joinery's existing right-of-way will pave the way for an expansion of The Joinery and additional parking. Once the changes are completed, there will be a net gain of parking for the space, though the exact number will be unknown until engineering plans are finalized.
The commissioners backed the idea that parking is needed in the area; Read said he often can't go to The Joinery because he's unable to find a parking space in the packed lot.
Initial renderings show a new building installed on the back end of The Joinery's current parking space with some parking left intact there and additional parking on the city's parcel.
Although Madden voted to approve the project, she brought up concerns about the "bigger picture" for parking in the city. The Joinery is in the parking exempt portion of downtown.
"They just feel that they need the parking based on citizens wanting parking right next to the restaurant, which we're trying to wean people off of," Madden said.
Madden said she wants to have a larger conversation about "predictable parking" downtown, including where parking garages are going up next. She said continuously adding surface parking is not where the city is going long-term; the city's Community Redevelopment Agency is negotiating a deal to turn the Oak Street surface parking lot into a parking garage and apartment complex with retail space.
"We can't just continue to have everyone have a surface lot to have their patrons park," Madden said.
Read said he's concerned about the loss of green space in the city, especially since that land can absorb runoff rather than having it pollute lakes. He's also worried about space for people to park, sit and watch city parades.
"I think we should preserve green space in the City of Lakeland. And this is ... the last green space on the north side of Lake Mirror," Read said. "Once we sell it, we're not ever going to get it back."
Other commissioners pointed out that there's not much "green" left in the lot, which Joinery customers frequently park in despite signs warning patrons not to do so. Commissioner Sara Roberts McCarley said The Joinery has done a good job of preserving green space in front of its entrance, where there are sofas and other outdoor seating.
Additionally, Commissioner Mike Musick said there is other green space in the area, including the lot across from the Lakeland Fire Department that the city intends to turn into a dog park.
Maya Lora can be reached with questions or tips at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @mayaklora.
___
(c)2021 The Ledger (Lakeland, Fla.)
Visit The Ledger (Lakeland, Fla.) at www.theledger.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
