One of my favorite shows on Food Network is Restaurant Impossible. And, a South Carolina restaurant will be making an appearance on the show. The Robert Irvine hosted show filmed an episode at Runway Cafe at the Greenville Downtown Airport. The episode airs February 23. According to The State, the Runway Cafe episode filmed in October. Of course, anyone familiar with Restaurant Impossible knows that Chef Irvine comes in to lift up struggling restaurants. Furthermore, he supports the business, owners and staff on every level. In addition to menu development, Irvine brings in crews to give the space a makeover with furnishings and decor. Also, he typically counsels staff and owners on other issues too. He works to improve their customer service and talks them through personal and financial struggles.
The Runway Cafe, popular among families, opened in 2010. However, they fell on hard times following the pandemic. But, the owner points out that he actually sought out Restaurant Impossible before COVID. Owner, Mike Bliss, says the menu changed throughout the years, and included dinner service. At one time, Runway Cafe had 70 seats inside and 120 outside with a conference room. After COVID hit, they switched to just counter service. And, the air-themed decor stayed the same for the most part since opening. In the early days, the cafe was the first attraction in the spot. Although, the area saw a playground, mini golf and museum open since then.
So, Chef Irvine spends two days looking over the business and plotting his changes. The show budget is typically $10,000. And, on the second day local guests come in to see the new space and try out the menu. Many restaurants appearing on the show report upticks in business and profits following Irvine’s help. I can’t wait to see this South Carolina restaurant appear on Restaurant Impossible!