Proud Bird Restaurant in LA stays open another month

[Pat Carry]

For those of you in the LA area that have been wanting to go here for the 1st time or for a return visit, you have just under a month to try out their board of fare. They were supposed to have shuttered their doors last Friday but the closing date was pushed back a month to Dec 21st. http://www.theproudbird.com

[Pat Carry]

I recommend it for anyone in LA area if they haven't seen it before. We went about 2 or 3 weeks ago. Foods really good. And the photos lining the walls are a memorial to Golden Age aviation, Los Angeles Golden Age aviation history and US WWII aviation heroes and manufacturing! The full scale, outdoor fiberglass displays allow some interesting comparisons too. There are a few real aircraft too, but off to one end of the display area.

I wonder what will happen to not only the planes whether they be replicas or the real thing, but all the memorabilia you mentioned hanging on the walls. I hope it doesn't find its way to a dumptser.

[Zachary]

Do they still have a P-47 replica there?

[Firebird]

Had a meal in the Proud Bird on a stop over visit to LA for a few days on the way back from the 50th Anniversary Airshow at Nellis AFB way back in 1997, and ended up going back there to eat on the following 2 days as well, just to finish looking around at the memorabilia as well as for the good grub.

Sad to hear that it's closing

[JohnH]

It's not over yet. They are in negotiations. I hope common sense prevails. 200 k a year rent to 500k is absurd and will just lead to another parking lot. Fingers crossed.

http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/ar ... -78267591/

[Punisher05]

Thanks for posting that John--based on that article I think I know what's going on, since I've had to deal with some of that in the airport world.

Simply put: the FAA also dictates how an airport can make money using it's terminal spaces to make the airport self-sufficient (which is in the FAA and NPIAS's interest). In the old days you could pretty much set whatever cost you wanted per square foot of available concessions space; now they have rewritten the rules so that the rental is based on the potential earning capability of said space. The bigger the space at a bigger airport, the more it'll cost, but hopefully the more it will bring in as well.

Ironically, those rules were written to help keep slimy folks from sliding lucrative (cheap) rents toward their friends, who would naturally return the favor in the form of kickbacks. Looks like the restaurant got caught in the crossfire

-Brandon

[marine air]

It's hard to know exactly what is going on since we are on the outside looking in at the problem. We had a Tallichet restaurant at BNA. The food was great and then David Tallichet sold it to the employees. Consequently the food declined over a couple years. The bar became a haven for coke heads, and it became unfashionable to go there. The owners sold the real estate to the AIrport Authority and leased it back to operate. Rents increased dramatically. After it closed the airport had it bulldozed and leased the land to build new hangars for Kenny Chesney and Taylor Swift's flight departments.
THe #1 profit center at most airports with scheduled airline service is the parking garage. SO I would look at its proximity to LAX' parking lots. Most of the old Tallichet restaurants were built in the 1970's and 1980's. No doubt the consultants refer to that area as "outdated eyesores"
The #2 best profit center is typically the freight terminals. DO FEDEX or UPS want that property? IF so they will get it.
The #3rd best profit center is any military base , like an Air Guard base that has to lease back their facilities from the controlling agency.
Actual profit and revenue generated from the sale of JET A, and tickets fall way down the list. Aviation is a fairly pathetic industry for profit making.

Find out who wants the property for their own use and you'll find Board of Director members with an incentive to make this happen for them.

[Invader26]

Marineair is on the money. Airports are strictly business and will crunch the numbers not the nostalgia.

Welcome to the 21st Century....

I don't like this MBA/JD driven society much but I've learned no point fighting "city hall" once they've made up their minds..

[Punisher05]

I don't like this MBA/JD driven society much but I've learned no point fighting "city hall" once they've made up their minds..

Try having to put up with it from the inside It's maddening to see airports actually trying to get rid of their aviation heritage in order to attract politically correct feelings that have nothing to do with why that facilitiy exists in the first place.

Either way, $$$$ is what makes the world go around. Sometimes people in charge of airports are ethical, other times they aren't. I've been on the 50 yard line for both.

-Brandon

[JohnH]

It gets a reprieve for one more year, during which they will negotiate more. Awesome!

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-m ... z2nbgLvchG

[Pat Carry]

It gets a reprieve for one more year, during which they will negotiate more. Awesome!

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-m ... z2nbgLvchG

Thanks for the update. Good news indeed!

[F4U-7]

I just heard from Bill Tallichet and the good news is that Specialty Restaurants has negotiated a 20 year lease for the Proud Bird. Approved by the L.A. City Council today.

Go see the planes, marvel at the old pictures at the bar (many chosen by David for their significance) and enjoy a meal to celebrate !!!

[JohnH]

Ah man woohoo! I've raced Billy in karts!!! Seeing his eyes in that helmet he looked like his dad sitting in the right seat of the B17 in 1945!