Blindsided. That's how Lakeland Linder International Airport describes a sudden and unexpected departure of the only restaurant in its main terminal. What's worse, it comes just weeks before the airport is supposed to start up its well-publicized commercial airline service with low-cost carrier Avelo. “We were caught off guard,” Lakeland International Airport Director Kris Hallstrand said. With just weeks to go before starting up commercial airline service, the airport’s one and only restaurant vendor, Waco Kitchen, told them it was closing its doors. The closure, say signs throughout the terminal building, is temporary but indefinite. Hallstrand says they must have a food vendor when Avelo starts service on June 13th. “We are in need of having some sort of food and beverage service for folks to either get ready for their flight and relax and having a meal or once they get off their flight, if they would like to enjoy a good meal before they head out on the road to wherever destination they’re headed,” Hallstrand said. Hallstrand says the restaurant’s parent company recently went through a corporate restructuring which led to questions about just who actually owns Waco Kitchen. Until that's sorted out, they’re in an unsettling holding pattern. MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/polkcounty/lakeland-airport-waco-kitchen-restaurant-closure/67-169a90c5-7009-4461-9cb2-96fce232c4ef ►Subscribe: https://on.wtsp.com/youtube ►Website: https://www.wtsp.com/ ►Facebook: https://facebook.com/10TampaBay ►X: https://twitter.com/10TampaBay