County officials have spent the past several years trying to talk up the amount of activity at the Chautauqua County Airport at Jamestown.

Those efforts have been part of efforts to both balance the airport operation’s budget and to convince the federal government to reinstate the Essential Air Service subsidy that would allow commercial air service to resume at the airport. We’ve heard about private flights for Cummins, the National Comedy Center, Chautauqua Institution and other area companies.

The success of a new restaurant at the airport would say as much about the number of people coming in and out of the airport each day than most metrics the county can provide. This is the third attempt at a restaurant in the airport in the past three years. Lack of activity has been one of the issues that restaurateurs have faced in the past. In November 2024, Basil & Bones, a catering company, was seeking to expand operations and signed a six-month lease for $400 a month, with the option for a lease extension with an increase in rent. At the time, county officials said Basil & Bones was looking to have a traditional restaurant there, but apparently decided against it once its lease was up. Before Basil & Bones, Studio Catering D had been leasing the restaurant. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in April 2023 but they left in September that same year. They were paying $500 a month.

Archies Airport Diner is seeking a one-year lease beginning March 1, with the option to renew at the end of the term. The business will be charged $900 a month.

County officials are still trying to convince federal officials that the Chautauqua County Airport at Jamestown is a good investment. Given past history we can understand the U.S. Transportation Department’s doubts that the county can meet the passenger counts needed to justify the expense of the Essential Air Service designation. But if Archies Airport Diner can make it where others have failed in the past few years, then perhaps activity levels at the airport are changing. Even if Essential Air Service doesn’t return, at the very least having a restaurant in the airport last for a while could perhaps show there is viability in private air service and other types of aviation businesses at the airport.

It would be a good start.