The 94th Aero Squadron at Chicago Executive Airport is grounded for life. Over the past 30 years, this 1917 french farmhouse style restaurant, seemed to be a high-flyer when it came to packing in the customers.

The past year however, it appeared that the attraction had fizzled and there were rarely any cars in the parking lot. That of course was just my observation from the air traffic control tower.

I can’t say I’ve eaten at the 94th Aero Squadron restaurant, but I’ve walked through there a few years ago when the WWII bombers were being displayed on the back lawn. I’m all for the growth of Chicago Executive Airport, but it stinks that such a landmark kind of restaurant has to be a casualty of expansion.

The restaurant, in the middle of the airfield, is presently closed and demolition is imminent. Plans for a couple of hangers along taxiway charlie are already in the works and a company called XJet has proposed a fancy new terminal/FBO with a gaggle of accompanying aircraft to put in its place. If approved, the privately funded, $25 million project would be built on 14 acres of the airport.