Watsonville Airport Restaurant May Get Alcohol License
The Watsonville Planning Commission is considering an alcohol license for a new restaurant at the Watsonville Municipal Airport. If approved, the restaurant would be permitted to serve alcoholic beverages. The decision is expected to impact dining options and the overall atmosphere at the local airport.
The new restaurant is operated by veteran Monterey chef Tim Wood, who plans to open a third location of his popular "Woody's" restaurant chain. Wood's existing operations include Woody's at the Airport at Monterey Regional Airport and Woody's at Del Mesa in Carmel Valley, which are known for American fare. His Monterey airport location was voted the #1 airport restaurant by USA Today readers. The Watsonville airport location is slated for a mid-March opening and has been undergoing renovations, including updates to the electrical systems, kitchen equipment, and dining areas. The restaurant space occupies 2,400 square feet inside the main terminal building and features a 430-square-foot patio with views of the runway. This new establishment replaces Ella's at the Airport, which closed abruptly in June 2025 after a 12-year run under two different owners. The closure followed a period of controversy, including a public protest against a political event held at the restaurant and a contentious ownership transfer in 2022 that was narrowly approved by the Watsonville City Council after an initial denial by the airport director. The alcohol license in question is a Type 47, which permits the sale of beer, wine, and distilled spirits for on-site consumption. This type of license is considered valuable as it is one of the few that allows for a full cocktail bar on the west side of the city. The new operator, Tim Wood, must purchase the license from the former owner of Ella's. The restaurant space at the Watsonville Municipal Airport has a long history of housing eateries. Before it became Ella's, the location was home to a restaurant called Props, and before that, Zuniga's Mexican Food Restaurant, which took over from the original establishment, The Belly Landing, in 1987. The Watsonville Planning Commission meeting to consider the license is scheduled for the evening of Tuesday, March 3rd. The commission's agenda also includes a presentation on the city's housing element progress report.
