The City of Hollister received one response showing interest in running a restaurant at the vacant, recently renovated airport building.
In mid-October, the council directed staff to release a request for qualifications, which went out directly to six parties believed to be interested in running a restaurant at the spot. But just one response came back, and the city council Monday will consider entering into negotiations with the applicants, Jose Farias and Kaley Arie, according to the agenda for Monday’s 6:30 p.m. meeting at Hollister City Hall, 375 Fifth St.
The small structure at 155 Skyland Drive near the airport office was built in 1942 as a Navy-owned structure. Most memorably for locals these days, though, it had been home to the Ding-A-Ling breakfast restaurant for many years followed by a short-lived successor establishment when Ding-A-Ling moved to Fourth Street.
The city-owned and funded airport in the past couple years has been planning and now executing a major renovation — with the building in need of repairs to plumbing, floors, painting, the roof, air conditioning and more in order to bring the small structure up to code.
Costs for the renovation had totaled $65,000 as of mid-September. That included $30,000 for the roof, $13,000 for a hood ventilation unit, $10,000 for electrical, $12,000 for plumbing. The funds come from the Airport Fund, which is separate from the city’s discretionary General Fund.
City gets one response for airport restaurant lease
