Studio D Catering will be taking over the vacant restaurant at the Jamestown airport. Photo by Gregory Bacon

After years of being vacant, the Chautauqua County Airport in Jamestown will soon have a new business.

During last week’s county Legislature meeting, Studio D Catering was approved to lease the restaurant facilities at the Jamestown airport starting today at a cost of $500 a 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 she has 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 great fit as we expand our private catering, begin to offer grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches to more than 150 employees within a 3-mile radius of the airport, feature local small businesses and artisans in 716-themed gift shop, and foster a unique event space for private parties and our own special events,” Scott wrote.

Scott noted that Studio D Catering has been a “formidable force of generosity and hospitality” since their launch seven years ago. They have extensive catering experience, have operated a food truck, hosted several community events “and given generously to our local shelters and emergency service providers.”

Before the vote, county airport manager Shannon Barnhart said she supports Studio D Catering’s request.

“We are very excited to have someone there who already has a good reputation in the community,” she said.

Legislator Bob Scudder, R-Fredonia, said he is in favor of the lease. “This is exciting. It’s good to see business locating up into the airport and get revenue for the county,” he said.

Legislator 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 in there. Maybe they could provide grab and go products for the travelers to and from Jamestown,” he said.

Jamestown has been without commercial air service since 2017. Last year the county Legislature voted against providing funding to do an Essential Air Service study. This was before Wilfong was sworn into office. No legislators responded Wednesday to Wilfong’s comments.

The Tarmac Cafe had been at the airport but it left in September 2016 after doing business there for three years.