94th Aero Squadron

(15 Feb 1976-✔) The 94th Aero Squadron steakhouse in Kearny Mesa is part of a chain of WWI French farmhouse-themed restaurants developed in the 1970s by Specialty Restaurants Corporation of Long Beach, California. Each farmhouse was built adjacent a municipal airport, a replica of that used by Colonel Eddie Rickenbacker in 1918 as commander of the 94th Aero Squadron. Food is contemporary steakhouse fare with a few Gallic touches like Short Rib Bourguignon and French Onion Soup. Go for the prime rib and stuffed potato skins.

The half-million-dollar restaurants were initially designed by Lynn Paxton, AlA, and decorated with working replicas of French Neiport 28 biplanes, Vickers machine guns, sandbags, anti-aircraft pits, French antiques and period photos. Their cocktail lounges were themed as basement air raid shelters, with continuous showings of World War I and II aerial and ground combat films, Mister Magoo cartoons, as well as old film comedies of the Marx Brothers and W.C. Fields. Waitresses wore “gray lady” Red Cross volunteer tunics, waiters wore red chef’s coats and toques.

Theme Restaurants Galore
Specialty Restaurants Corp (SRC) owned and operated more than 70 restaurants and shopping centers, including The Reef in Long Beach, Baby Doe’s, Castaway, The Chili Pepper, Jack London, Pieces of Eight, Ports O’Call, Rusty Pelican, Whaler’s Wharf, and that aboard the Queen Mary. Also founded by WWII veteran David C. Tallichet Jr, was the corporation’s subsidiary, Military Aircraft Restoration. His goal was to save and restore as many historical aircraft as possible — for film work, display in museums and in their restaurants. Each of the 94th Aero Squadron locations displayed at least one aeroplane from their collection. The family-run corporation celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2026.

The Sea World Connection
Another original partner in Specialty Restaurants with Tallichet was Ocean Beach native George Millay (1929-2006). After SRC went public in the 1960s, Millay founded SeaWorld in San Diego. He expanded the concept to Orlando, Florida, and then opened Wet n’ Wild water parks. The Sea World connection to 94th Aero Squadron restaurants goes back to 1969, when Millay and SeaWorld founded Boom Trenchard’s Flare Path airport restaurant, named for Hugh Montague “Boom” Trenchard, overlooking San Diego’s Lindbergh Field.

Sea World leased the land from Port of San Diego, and built the six-story restaurant facing Lindbergh Field’s runways — right on the spot of the old terminal.

Boom’s opened with a fundraiser for the San Diego Aerospace Museum on 22 Sep 1969. After ten years, Sea World sold Boom’s to Torrey Enterprises (Columbia Center, Intercontinental Hotel) in 1978.

The Prototype
Boom Trenchard’s Flare Path was the precursor to what would become SRC’s multi-level, airport-adjacent concept, 94th Aero Squadron. Boom’s displayed a replica of Otto Lilienthal’s 1891 glider over diners’ heads, had the Lone Eagle Lounge, the 94th Aero Squadron “Bomb Shelter” cellar bar, and a restaurant seating 185 people. Tables were equipped with earphones so patrons could listen to flight control chatter. A wall of huge windows displayed a 180-degree view of the runway. They lasted until a jet’s exhaust blew in the glass, injuring eight patrons. Investors at Torrey Enterprises wanted out of the restaurant business, and tried to do a deal with the Playboy Club. But the Port of San Diego would have none of that. In 1982, SRC — which by that time ran more than a dozen Squadrons — bought out Torrey Enterprises’ lease, and re-imagined the space as Tuxedo Charley’s food emporium with ferns, peacock chairs and an eclectic, never-ending menu.

By the 2000s, most of the “Squads” were sold or closed as their leases expired and adjacent municipal airports expanded. There are two 94th Aero Squadrons left today — in San Diego and Miami — now independently owned and operated.

Kearny Mesa
94th Aero Squadron (15 Feb 1976-✔)
Montgomery Field Airport
8885 Balboa Avenue
San Diego, CA 92123

Miami
94th Aero Squadron (Jul 1977-✔)
Miami International Airport
1395 NW 57th Avenue
Miami, FL 33126

San Diego
Boom Trenchard’s Flare Path & 94th Aero Squadron Bar (1969-1982, Sea World)
Tuxedo Charley’s (1982-1987, SRC)
Copacabana (1987, Larry Barnes, Ballard Smith, demolished 2017)
Lindbergh Field
2888 Pacific Highway
San Diego, CA 92101

Van Nuys
94th Aero Squadron (1973-2022)
Van Nuys Airport
16320 Raymer Street
Lake Balboa, CA 91406

Denver
94th Aero Squadron (1973-1980s)
Stapleton International Airport
10081 East 25th Avenue
Aurora, Colorado 80010

Costa Mesa
94th Aero Squadron (1974)
Orange County Airport
3180 Airway Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

San Jose
94th Aero Squadron (1974-2006)
San Jose Municipal Airport
1160 Coleman Avenue
San Jose, CA 95110

Chicago
94th Aero Squadron (1974-2011)
Palwaukee Municipal Airport
1050 South Milwaukee Avenue
Wheeling, IL 60090

Dallas
94th Aero Squadron (1976-1982)
Love Field
8101 Lemmon Avenue
Dallas, TX 75235

Orlando
94th Aero Squadron (1977-1980s)
Orlando Executive Airport
494 Rickenbacker Drive
Orlando, FL 32803

Columbus
94th Aero Squadron (1980-2023)
Port Columbus Airport
5030 Sawyer Road
Columbus, OH 43219