Tri-Cities Airport restaurant to close September 2015

Port of Pasco officials continue to work on the transition of Tri-Cities Airport concessions from Florentyna’s to Tailwind, a concessionaire at 10 U.S. airports.

Port commissioners recently unanimously approved ending longtime concessionaire Florentyna’s contract on Sept. 1, 2015, which is when the airport’s restaurant would close for the next phase of the airport remodel project.

Commissioners recently approved offering Cindy Goulet, owner of Florentyna’s, up to about $204,000 to buy out the remaining year and a half of her contract, said Randy Hayden, the port’s executive director.

The offer was made to Florentyna’s last week. Port commissioners decided to make the offer after waiting for about two months for a proposal from Goulet.

Goulet did submit a counterproposal to the port Tuesday afternoon, Hayden said. Port officials are reviewing that proposal now. The offer may need to go back to the port commission, which next meets on Dec. 8.

The Herald was unable to reach Goulet this week.

Florentyna’s has provided superb service for airport users for 17 years, Hayden said.

Goulet took over airport concessions at the Pasco airport in April 1997. That same year, she opened Florentyna’s Italian restaurant at the Pasco airport. She expanded the offerings, opening 3 Eyed Fish, a bar in the secured boarding area, in 2011. She also operates the River Snack Bar and the gift shop.

Port officials continue to work on lease terms with Tailwind, which will begin offering concessions at the airport on Sept. 1, 2015. Hayden said it’s likely that Tailwind will start out with a mobile cart until construction on the restaurant is complete. The full, sit-down restaurant is expected to open in summer 2016.

Port officials had asked the future concessionaire to make an investment of about $2.2 million to the planned restaurant and concessions space. Florentyna’s had also submitted a proposal, but port officials said then the renovation cost was more than Goulet could afford.

Construction on the once-in-a-generation expansion of the Pasco airport began earlier this year and is expected to finish in January 2017.

This story was originally published November 26, 2014 at 4:29 PM with the headline "Tri-Cities Airport restaurant to close September 2015."