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Basil & Bones seeks to rent airport restaurant

A catering business may be moving into the Jamestown airport and eventually open a full restaurant.

During the Chautauqua County Legislature’s Administrative Services Committee, it was announced that Basil & Bones wants to lease the restaurant space at the county airport.

The space was last rented by Studio D Catering but they left in September, 2023.

Airports Manager Shannon Fischer said Basil & Bones wants to rent the space for six months and then at that point consider a longer lease. “They want to do catering, similar to the last lease we did. … The six-month lease would get them to April, where they want to go into a longer term lease to do an actual restaurant. They have a plan to do dinners and lunches in a full-bore restaurant,” she said.

Basil & Bones has a food truck that operates out of 2061 Foote Avenue, Jamestown. On its website, the owners state that “as we move into fall, the food truck will only operate on a pop-up basis over the next few weeks,” adding that the catering business will remain open seven days a week.

The county is proposing charging Basil & Bones $400 a month from Oct. 1 to March 31. The plan, according to Fischer, is to charge $750 a month beginning in April.

Legislator Bob Scudder, R-Fredonia, asked if any remodeling or equipment upgrades are needed.

Fischer said they are looking to buy a convection oven, and either repair or replace the freezer. The convection oven is expected to cost $3,000 to $4,000. The freezer has not been examined so no cost estimates are available.

Scudder noted that in the past, the county has made upgrades, but the renters walked away. “It just concerns me last time to take in less rent than it costs us to cover it,” he said.

According to Fischer, fair market value is $2,800 a month, but added they can’t find anyone for that price.

Scudder agreed. He said he “reluctantly” would vote in favor of the resolution in committee. The resolution needs to be passed by the full legislature at its meeting Sept. 25.

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