After plans fell through to open a Rosati’s Pizza franchise at PGD Air Center at Punta Gorda Airport, Charlotte County Airport Authority is seeking bids for a full-service restaurant and bar that also provides catering.
Partial buildout of the restaurant already has been completed, including a $400,000 investment in framing, a natural gas line, rough electrical and plumbing work, lighting and various kitchen equipment — a pizza oven, walk-in coolers, mixers, prep tables and an industrial dough-maker — airport Director of Marketing & Communications Kaley Miller said.
In addition, PGD is offering a $200,000 reimbursement once buildout is completed and a certificate of occupancy is issued.
The Air Center is a 13,500-square-foot facility about 1.5 miles from PGD’s commercial passenger terminal. It has a lobby, conference room, events room, leased offices/flight schools, a pilot lounge and staff who provide private aircraft fueling and tie-down and ground-handling services.
Both mom-and-pop and chain restaurants are invited to submit a proposal, Miller said. Proposals are due by 2 p.m. Jan. 29, 2025.
The 2,853-square-foot restaurant at 27450 Challenger Way will be open to the public and serve about 1,600 employees who work on airport property, including airlines, Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, Pulsafeeder, Hertz, Enterprise, Avis and Budget car rentals and Charlotte Technical College.
The restaurant has wall-to-wall windows with views of runways, airport parking and aviation activity. Since it is not located in the terminal building, anyone can eat there or rent out the dining area and an adjacent 534-square-foot room for events.
Miller said the restaurant’s elevation is 20 feet and “there is no risk of flooding.”
During its February meeting, airport authority members revealed expansion plans and additions on the airport campus, including the restaurant where construction was underway.
One of the selling points CCAA highlighted was that while there are several fast food restaurants located south of PGD, there are no other competitive sit-down restaurants in a 3-mile radius.
In addition, beyond CCAA property in Enterprise Charlotte Airport Park, FedEx and Cheney Brothers each employ hundreds of workers, and hundreds more are employed by Suncoast Distributing, ABC Supply Co., Blue Bell and Amigo Pallets.
The restaurant is less than 3 miles from Interstate 75 Exit 164 and 4 miles from Exit 161 and near the commercial passenger terminal, which serves more than 50 destinations and 2 million passengers annually.
In 2023, officials said PGD had 103,252 takeoffs and landings, nearly half of which utilized the Air Center’s facilities and amenities, including its 500,000-square-foot ramp and self-serve fuel facility.
