Eating Out: Tailspin Tommy’s closes; Castillos expands; Ooh de Lolli at Mia Cuppa
Tailspin Tommy’s Aerodrome Eatery at Chandler Airport has closed, but it might not stay that way for long.
The diner where you could eat a burger while watching small planes land and take off closed Feb. 14.
Owners Geneva and Bruce McJunkin both have full-time jobs outside the restaurant. After running it for three years as Tailspin Tommy’s (though the restaurant has been around for longer than that) the couple made the painful decision to close.
“We just paid our money into that place and had to stop the bleeding,” Geneva McJunkin said, adding that it rarely paid for itself.
When the staff, including the purple-haired Vanesa who left a sweet goodbye on the restaurant’s Facebook page, found other jobs, the McJunkins decided it was time to close.
But, they’re in the process of finalizing a deal with an owner/operator who might have more luck running the restaurant. I’ll keep you updated.
Castillo’s
Fans of Castillo’s Mexican restaurants will be happy to hear the family is planning to open a location in the Tower District. They’re taking over the space at 568 E. Olive Ave., which was Frankie’s 568 and Rousseau before that. They’re shooting for a March 7 opening date.
The daughters of Castillo patriarch Gino Castillo will open this restaurant. Gino has opened several other Castillo’s in town, including the one on Ventura Avenue, which has been handed down to other family members. He also recently sold the 4386 W. Shaw Ave. near Costco and opened Casa Castillo, a smaller restaurant at 3628 W. Shaw Ave.
Ooh de Lolli
When the Ooh de Lolli Take Away Cafe at Gazebo Gardens closed and was replaced by Cafe Van Ness, several of you wanted to know where else you could get Ooh de Lolli’s goodies.
Owner Donna Mott’s food is now for sale at Mia Cuppa Caffe at 620 E. Olive Ave. in the Tower District. She’s providing her spinach puffs, salads, frittatas, sandwiches and the popular breakfast pudding made from avocado, banana, cocoa, chia seeds and sweetened agave nectar. Her food is sold alongside goodies from Fresno Bagel and La Boulangerie.
Mott has renamed her business Ooh de Lolli Kitchen Works and Fine Edibles and is using the former Keith’s Boxcar Cafe spot downtown as her behind-the-scenes kitchen.
If it’s the sweet treats from Ooh de Lolli you’re looking for, FireHouse Cookies is still making those. You can get them at Kuppa Joy in Clovis, Patio Cafe in Fresno and by special order. See the full menu on her website at www.firehousecookiesclovis.com.
Ampersand
Earlier this month I told you about Ampersand Ice Cream planning to open a shop on Echo Avenue across from Fresno High.
The excitement about this one just keeps growing. Last week, owners Jeff and Amelia Bennett surpassed their $20,000 Kickstarter.com fundraising campaign goal.
The couple is already hard at work inside the former P*DE*Q space and is planning a May opening.
Cindy’s Frozen Yogurt & Desserts at 802 E. Olive Ave. is also open.
Kona Ice
And while we’re on the topic of sweet, cold treats there’s a new shaved ice truck in town called Kona Ice.
The area already had one and now Fresno native Joshua Prieb has returned to Fresno and is running another truck. The retired police officer and military man was a stay-at-home dad to five kids and married to his marriage and family therapist wife Amy when he decided to do a little more to occupy his time.
He and his wife now run the newest Kona truck, a colorful, beach-themed vehicle with strobe lights and a stereo system playing calypso music. Customers are served the shaved ice and then help themselves to 10 or more flavored syrups on top.
The truck does fundraisers where it gives back 20% of the proceeds. It shows up at various events, including corporate or sporting events. The syrups have added vitamin C and meet federal guidelines so the truck can sell at schools.
You can find out more about Kona on its Facebook page.
Dickey’s
Tulare now has a Dickey’s Barbecue. This quick-service barbecue franchise keeps opening new locations in the Valley.
The newest, at 1348 East Prosperity Ave., is owned by Donnie and Kelly Brooks, the same people who own the Visalia Dickey’s.
This story was originally published February 24, 2015 at 11:00 AM with the headline "Eating Out: Tailspin Tommy’s closes; Castillos expands; Ooh de Lolli at Mia Cuppa."