The Runway Cafe at Greenville Downtown Airport will close May 31. The announcement came March 7 from the airport.
“The decision not to renew the lease for Runway Café was extremely hard. Lem and everyone at the café are like family, but the Greenville Airport Commission has had to look at the long-term future of the Community Corridor and the impact that space has on aviation visitors and the next generation of aviators,” Airport Director James Stephens said in a released statement. “The city of Greenville is hailed as one of the best food cities in the U.S. and as such, the airport needs to keep pace with the growth and continue to be a sought-after destination for visitors to our airport and community.”
On June 20, 2024, the airport released a Request for Proposals for the cafe’s space located at 21 Airport Road Extension. The bid deadline was on Sept. 30, 2024. On Sept. 8, 2024, the cafe’s owner, Lem Winesett, posted a petition to remain in place when its lease was up May 2025.
The petition was intended to allow the public an opportunity to voice their desires for the restaurant to stay. The statement released by the airport noted that Runway Cafe submitted its proposal but was denied.
The Runway Cafe first opened in 2010. Although the statement stated that a new restaurant would move into the spot, it did not release details.
