When Runway Café’s lease ends at the Greenville Downtown Airport (GMU) in May 2025, we could see a new concept go in its place.
GMU is looking for ideas to take over the restaurant located in its Community Corridor, which also features Runway Park, Takeoff Mini Golf, and the Military History Center of the Carolinas Museum. From now until Sept. 30, interested restaurants can submit their restaurant ideas and bids.
We asked what you want to see go there. Here’s what you said:
- “I think whatever comes next should definitely keep an aeronautical theme. It’s uniquely located and it would be a shame to lose that special connection.” — Shirley B.
- “I think it should be a sandwich shop called Air & Sea (Air for the airport/planes and Sea for selling subs). They could have sandwiches called ‘The Amelia Earhart’ and ‘The Down Periscope.’” — Steve P.
- “Something similar to Southernside Brewing or 13 Stripes River Lodge. Watch airplanes while you eat and have a drink. A trendy, Instagrammable destination for pilots and passengers to eat after they land in Greenville serving beer, wine, and cocktails. Obviously, it needs to be kid-friendly, but not kid-centric.” — Lee G.
- “It’s the perfect venue for a true custard ice cream shop, called ‘Runway Custard.’ It would be perfect for families to bring children and grandchildren watch the planes and interact, but it must be a true custard shop, made on site with flavors of the week.” — Scott R.
- “A restaurant called flight and there are flight options for everything: Flights of fries, nachos, coffee, etc.” — Anonymous
Many of you also replied you’d love to see Runway Café stay, and the airport tells us the current operators are able to submit a proposal for consideration with other potential tenants.
Runway Café opened in 2010 and made headlines last year when it appeared on the Food Network show “Restaurant Impossible.” (If you want to watch: Season 20, episode 25 titled “Stalled on the Runway.”)
You can still submit what you want to see in the space. Name your cuisine, dining-style, concept, or chain. The sky’s the limit.
