SOUTHERN FLYER DINER AT BRENHAM AIRPORT CLOSES

  

The Southern Flyer Diner at the Brenham Airport closed down Sunday.  The 1950’s styled diner that featured waitresses in poodle skirts has been in business for almost 15 years.  Owner Jack Hess says the downturn in the oil business along with the lack of weekend flyers has hurt his business.

Employees were informed Sunday afternoon that the diner was shutting down.  Hess said he had a staff of 26 and will be retaining 6 of those to run the airport side.  The diner was named pilots favorite airport restaurant every year since it opened in 2002.  Hess says that it’s been a frequent stop for visitors to Brenham, but that the downturn in tourism has also hurt his business.  Hess says he plans on leaving the diner in place and possibly reopening it in several years.

The diner was a favorite stop for local patrons also.  Hess said that he did not announce the closing ahead of time so that there wouldn’t be a rush of business on the last day.  He said that many past patrons have stopped by to share their memories and wish him well.

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25 Comments

  1. Great place. Suspect though that new airport restaurants at KLBX and KCXO siphoned off business. Still it’s hard the beat the ambience of the Southern Flyer. Hopefully they’ll be back soon.

  2. So sad to see it close. it was a favorite for motorcylcists and such a great place to bring friends to enjoy the 50’s music and see the girls in the poodle skirts. Always had a great time there and the food never disappointed. Wish you the best of luck and hope you will reconsider and open up once again. It was the best,

    1. Sad to hear the news. We visited every weekend, it was our fried catfish place. I wish you had planned a blowout weekend where we could’ve all come and said goodbye and give your sweet girls some going away $$. If the economy turns around for you, keep us posted if you ever re-open.

  3. Our family loves this place. Disappointed to see it close. We enjoyed making the drive out on a beautiful spring day and watching the planes come and go. Hope you re-open sooner rather than later!

  4. What a bitter disapointment!! I’ve probably made hundreds of trips there from Weiser AP in NW Houston. Better food is hard to find. I’ll miss you big time! Best wishes.

  5. Hate to see this. I have passed on word about the diner to all my friends traveling in that direction. They all really enjoyed the experience.

  6. So sad to hear this. My daughter in law, 2 1/2 year old granddaughter and I were at the diner several months ago. The food was wonderful as always. Cheyanne was so intrigued by the planes. We took pictures with the planes in the background. She was fascinated by a plane and to be up close to one. We hope you will reopen. We definitely will patronize you again. Thank you for years of good service, great food and an awesome atmosphere.

  7. So sorry to see this wonderful restaurant close. Will miss the outstanding food, awesome malts and milk shakes, poodle skirts, and the only place left to enjoy the fabulous 50s music. What a loss. But thank for your offerings the past 15 years. Best wishes, and hopefully one day you will reopen.

  8. What a loss.we annually rode our bikes there for a lunch during bluebonnet season. One of the highlights of the area.great Foosball and service. Lots of fun. Made us feel like family. May God bless yall ..you will beissed.

  9. So sorry to hear this. SF has been a favorite “$100 hamburger” destination for years as well as a Spring time bluebonnet tour pit stop.

  10. That’s a real shame. Loved stopping every chance I got. In this day and age of social media, it’s important to keep patrons apprised of activities as well as risk of closure so help can be provided if needed. I know a lot of pilots who would have stepped up the visits had we known it was in trouble. Don’t give up the dream.

  11. As a newcomer to the area it sounds like it would have been one of my favorite places, had I known about it

  12. Love you guys and your diner!!! You employed both our girls! We normally saw
    you on a weekly or bi-weekly visit for lunch!!! The diner will be missed by so many!!!! So glad
    we were able to bring Charles back a couple weeks ago!! I pray you are able to open back sooner then you think!! For your sake, customers and everyone in the Oil & Gas field! Kim & Charles

  13. Enjoyed the food, atmosphere, prompt and friendly service the times I visited. Best of luck to those now unemployed without notice in finding a new job. Not giving them any notice was not fair. A little more advertisement in town might of brought enough business to of kept it viable without having to reply as much on air traffic to bring in the business

  14. I went fairly often, it usually had a pretty good crowd. I am surprised it had to close. I hope it does open back up, I’ll get there as fast as I can if it does!

  15. Please reconsider your decision to close. Try raising your prices enough to justify keeping it open. These are Aviation people they’re used to paying higher prices. You have something special here

  16. Please reconsider your decision to close. Try raising your prices enough to justify keeping it open. These are Aviation people they’re used to paying higher prices. You have something special here

  17. I’m so sad this iconic cafe is closing….We loved the diner and flew in often to enjoy a weekend lunch….This is very sad……Duree

  18. Southern Flyer Diner has been a good to place for my family for many years. It will be sadly missed even though we understand the decision for the close. Hope we are surprised at the open back up more quickly until then Mr Hess please know that we honestly will miss the Diner. My grandchildren will be deviststed when they return this summer. We will still visit the airport with the grandchildren. We will continue to encourage our friends that are pilots to use Brenham Airport. My husband is a pilot and we understand the cutback in recreational flying.

  19. Jack and Janet……so sad to hear of the diner closing. Many great memories there with y’all. I truly hope this situation will eventually turn around!! Your ole friend,

    Herman in Sandpoint,ID.

  20. The family loved to visit. The food was excellent and the malts just delicious…… Staff was the best and dressed darling from the the past.. Such a fun place to visit. Hopefully you will reopen. It truly will be missed by all…………………

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