Waco Aircraft Group Owner to Expand Restaurant Brand to Florida

"One of the pet peeves after I immigrated here to the U.S. was food," said Waco Aircraft Group owner, Sven Lepschy. "Especially since I travel so much, I was always challenged to get good food at airports."

Florida’s Lakeland airport, home to Sun n’ Fun, is getting its newest eatery once final approval for the lease is given from the Mayor. The city unanimously approved the agreement for DiMor Eats, LLC to create a restaurant at the airport. DiMor is the newest creation of Lepschy, also the owner of the Waco Kitchen restaurant at Battle Creek Executive Airport in Michigan. Operating an eatery and biplane manufacturer under the Waco brand has made their food a special treat for aviation enthusiasts looking for any excuse to travel for the “$100 dollar burger”. Waco Kitchen offers a menu with a bit of something for everyone, from light summertime salads to hearty breakfast fare perfect for a preflighting the aircraft on a cold Michigan winter morning. 

The addition of the restaurant will be the first to operate at Lakeland in over two years, and airport residents say food offerings in the surrounding area are sparse. Airport Director Gene Conrad said past eateries did better when a steady stream of commercial flights was common, something that hasn’t been a part of the airport ecosystem for some time. The future may improve, however, as the region is now seeing residential developments and expanded business opportunities. New employment and an upscale, aviation-themed hangout could be a draw for customers looking for some unorthodox sights and sounds with their lunchtime meal. 

Waco’s dedication to sustainability in their accoutrements should help bring more upscale cachet to those looking to minimize their waste footprint, common to fast-casual diners. Lepschy credits their success at Battle Creek to his “farm to table” approach, using as many locally sourced and organic proteins and dairy products as possible. He anticipates the Lakeland spot will see more fish offerings, including seasonal menu items specific to Florida. 

"The reason we are so successful is because we offer something that doesn’t exist," Lepschy said. "We fill a loophole here. What we do is we have a fusion of American and European cuisine; everything is freshly prepared. We have been trained by internationally trained chefs." 

Waco Kitchen will put in improvements and renovations as soon as approval is granted, with a targeted opening for March of 2022, just in time for Sun n’ Fun (just be sure to keep an eye out for the ANN crew... we love this place). 

FMI: www.wacokitchen.com