Serving Its Last Meals After A 48-Year Run

Restaurants with an aviation theme are not uncommon at airports around the country, particularly on smaller fields where pilots may go for the mythical "$100 hamburger."

But for 48 years, the Proud Bird Restaurant has served up fare at one of the nation's largest and busiest airports ... Los Angeles International (KLAX).

Now, the owner has informed airport officials that it will be closing November 21, though spokeswoman Nancy Castles said Runway Two-Five Corp., which owns the restaurant, has not officially informed Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) it will be vacating its lease.

LAWA said that the restaurant's decision to close may be tied to a dispute between it and Runway Two-Five Corp. over how much the latter should pay. LAWA said recently that the restaurant has been paying below market rate for its space on a month-to-month basis since its last long-term lease expired in April 2011.

City of Los Angeles regulations would require a competitive bidding process for a new lease, and that would have to start at fair market value. Sources told The Daily Breeze that Runway Two-Five Corp. did not want to participate in such a bid process at market rates.

The restaurant is decorated with photos of airplanes taking off and landing at LAX, and there is a collection of historic planes parked outside its main dining room.

LAWA said it currently has no plans for the building or the land should The Proud Bird close.

FMI: www.lawa.org, www.theproudbird.com