Wichita, KS–Since 2000 when Lynn Nichols acquired Yingling Aircraft, Inc., he has wanted to have a restaurant of some type within the facility. That goal was realized today with the announcement that Yingling has been awarded a Subway Cafe franchise. Slated to open in mid-June, the new restaurant will have seating for up to 46 diners and will also offer a full range of catering services. Hutton Construction was selected as the General Contractor.
“You could say this plan has been in the works for fourteen years,” stated Nichols, CEO of Yingling Aviation, the full service Fixed Base Operation (FBO) at Wichita’s Mid-Continent Airport. “It was a part of the original vision we had for this business…and now it’s happening. We are offering pilots and customers a convenient and enjoyable place they can fly-in or drive-in to eat.” The cafe joins Yingling’s highly successful and popular Aviator’s Attic, a pilot shop located inside the facility offering piloting supplies, a full range of aviation related gifts, apparel, charts and manuals. The Subway Café is expected to add approximately 15 to 20 full-time and part-time positions.
“Subway Café is a new concept store that offers an upscale dining environment and an expanded selection of menu products,” stated Rusty Rathbun, Subway’s Development Agent. The interior décor is warmer, and along with Subway’s national standard menu of sandwiches, salads, and the new “Flatizza” and breakfast items, the new Café also offers a larger selection of bakery items, pastries and beverages, including Espresso Lattes, and Smoothies. The new Subway Café will be the first one of its type in the state of Kansas. We are excited, not only to bring this new concept restaurant to Kansas, but to Wichita’s Mid-Continent Airport at Yingling Aviation. The Café will be located within one of Yingling’s hangars and will be constructed with glass walls, providing customers an exceptional view of airport activity and operations on the east runway,” Rathbun explained.
Victor White, Director of Airports for the Wichita Airport Authority, said, “This is an exciting development for Mid-Continent Airport. It helps fill a void for quick food service for visiting and local general aviation and military aviation customers, as well as the thousands of employees working on the airport campus who don’t always have the time on their lunch breaks to leave the airport to find a good meal.”
“This Subway Café will accommodate fast and convenient service to walk-in customers, and there’s plenty of parking for cars and airplanes. It allows us to provide fresh, on-demand breakfast items, Subway’s wide array of traditional sandwiches, salads, and the new “Flatizza” as well as the new bakery additions to the menu. It will also be an outstanding source of catering to our customers, as well as to companies and businesses located on the airport. Whether they’re ordering food for a large meeting, looking for a quick meal to take out or a place to have breakfast or lunch in an exciting, real-life aviation atmosphere, we will provide what they need. My son-in-law, Zach Theademan, will be the General Manager, so I know our customers will have an outstanding experience,” Nichols concluded.
ABOUT YINGLING
Yingling Aviation has been affiliated with Cessna Aircraft Company longer than any other fixed base operation, having been named the first Cessna dealer established in 1946. Its approximately 100 Wichita-based employees are dedicated to serving customers. A full general aviation services provider at Mid-Continent Airport (ICT) in Wichita, Kansas, Yingling is also a Cessna and McCauley Propeller Authorized Service Center specializing in servicing Cessna piston, turbine and jet aircraft. It is also the largest independent Cessna parts supplier in the world. It provides comprehensive support to the full range of new and legacy Cessna aircraft, offering the experience and expertise of trained, top-notch FlightSafety trained technicians, proximity to the factory, and familiarity with local vendors. Providing avionics, interiors and a variety of aircraft sales, charter, and management services, Yingling Aviation can be reached by calling (316) 943-3246 or on the web at www.yinglingaviation.com.