Historic LAX restaurant, the Proud Bird, will remain open after the owner was able to get a new lease from Los Angles World Airports, according to the L.A. Times. With stunning views of aircraft operations at LAX, surrounded by mockups of famous aircraft, crammed with aviation photos and memorabilia and long a hangout for aviators from all over the world, the restaurant faced closure after its annual rental rate was set to go from $200,000 to $500,000. Owner John Tallichet, noting an outpouring of community support, had earlier pledged to keep the restaurant open until late December. This week he announced that the new, one-year lease and said negotiations were continuing on a long-term lease.
Opened by Tallichets father, David, a World War II B-17 copilot and noted collector and operator of warbirds, the Proud Bird has been visited by such aviation notables as Jimmy Doolittle, Charles Lindbergh and Neil Armstrong. Traditionally a popular site for gatherings of pilots and aviation supporters, on Dec. 17 the restaurant was the venue for a number of supporters of Santa Monica Airport to celebrate the 110thanniversary of the Wright Brothers first flights.
