The only two restaurants at the Prince George International Airport will close effective Thursday, Nov. 28, the airport authority has announced.
Locals by Farmhouse, located in the airport's main concourse, and Gourmet Express Café inside the security area opened at the Prince George Airport two years ago.
Airport authority CEO Gordon Duke said in the announcement that the restaurants will be missed.
“We understand that the availability of food and beverage services is an important part of the overall travel experience, and the (Prince George Airport Authority) team is actively working to find a new food service provider,” Duke said in a media release. “We appreciate the patience and understanding of our passengers as we work towards a solution that continues to meet the needs of our airport community."
Reached by phone on Nov. 26, Duke said between the Thursday closure and the end of this weekend, the airport will provide complimentary muffins and coffee in the security area for passengers on morning flights as long as supplies last. This begins Friday, Nov. 29. After that, the airport will evaluate its options while it searches for new tenants.
“The intent is to just make sure people are able to grab a coffee and have a muffin while they wait to board their aircraft,” Duke said.
Farmhouse was selected through an expression of interest process the airport launched in 2021, he said. After carrying out renovations, the two locations opened to the public in November 2022.
Though Duke said he’s disappointed to lose Farmhouse, he said the renovations will allow a new service provider to move in “fairly quickly.” At this point, the airport does not know how long it will take to find new tenants.
That same media release said that Farmhouse is looking to return its focus to its core catering operations.
“We are thrilled to return to our roots and concentrate on what we excel at – creating unforgettable, personalized catering experiences for events, businesses, and special occasions,” Farmhouse director of operations Jesse Jamias said in the release. “Our time at the airport has been both incredible and a great learning experience, and while we have enjoyed operating the restaurant, this transition allows us to focus on the core of our business – delivering innovative catering solutions that our customers love.”
Last year, Farmhouse opened another Locals by Farmhouse location and a Bakery by Farmhouse location at the Prestige Treasure Cove Resort at the corner of Highways 16 and 97. However, the company's website no longer mentions them.
Back in October, Farmhouse posted on Facebook that its Treasure Cove locations would be closing for renovations.
On its website, Brixx Brewhouse lists an upcoming location opening in Prince George at the same address as Treasure Cove. The chain has five other locations in BC located in Prestige Hotels in Nelson, Smithers, Cranbrook, Salmon Arm and Vernon.
“We've started our renovations on the new space... so be sure to follow this page for updates on our progress,” the Brixx Brewhouse Facebook page said about the Prince George location in a Nov. 3 post.
The Citizen was unable to reach Farmhouse Catering for further comment.
