Aviators Restaurant to reopen at new Elk Grove location after nine-month closure
ELK GROVE, Calif. —
After nine months without serving customers, Sacramento’s Aviators Restaurant is preparing to reopen at a new location.
The longtime restaurant stopped serving customers at its Sacramento Executive Airport location at the beginning of the year while owner Cheung-Sang Chik worked with Sacramento County to address problems inside the building.
“Nine months since Jan. 1,” Chik said.
Chik shared a photograph with KCRA 3 showing deteriorating concrete in the restaurant’s kitchen. He said negotiations with the county over repairs remain underway.
“I cannot disclose too much on that because it’s still being negotiated with the county to get all the fixing and how everything is progressing,” Chik said.
The extended closure has taken a toll on the business and its workers.
“I mean, nine months without anything is pretty tough,” Chik said. “My employees mostly have to find a different job already.”
Aviators has been part of the Sacramento community for 27 years. The restaurant became known for its views of planes taking off from Sacramento Executive Airport and the relationships Chik built with customers over the decades.
Beginning Monday, Chik will bring Aviators’ food and service to Sky Port in Elk Grove. The new space already features model airplanes and aviation-inspired décor.
“The restaurant has a similar atmosphere to my last one,” Chik said. “He has all the airplanes hung up, so that makes a difference. People enjoy it. The atmosphere here is good.”
Chik described the new location as a natural match for Aviators.
“It’s a perfect fit with that theme and ambiance and everything,” he said.
Skyport’s existing employees will staff the restaurant initially. Chik said he will work behind the scenes, using his experience to oversee the food and service.
Chik said he will do his best to provide customers with “the same service, cooking and everything” they remember from Aviators’ original location.
It remains unclear when the restaurant at Sacramento Executive Airport will reopen. In the meantime, Chik said he is grateful for the opportunity at Skyport.
“That’s really well appreciated,” Chik said. “The people welcome me to come and cook breakfast here.”
Aviators Restaurant at Skyport will operate from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
KCRA 3 contacted Sacramento County for an update on renovations at the original location but has not received a response.
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