Story on Gary, Indiana Restaurant

Near noon Friday, a scene that would warm the heart of any Gary/Chicago International Airport supporter was unfolding at Mendoza's Mexican Mix.Families and Florida snowbirds were streaming in, stuffing travel bags under tables and ordering tacos, pretzels and Pepsis. Through a bank of windows, security guards could be seen setting up at gates.
Hooters Air Flight 9422 was due to arrive soon from St. Petersburg/Clearwater, and Flight 9421 would be making the trip back.

Restaurant owner Mellonie Mendoza was working the cash register and her dad, Pete Mendoza, was working the grill."My employee comes in at noon; I think we'll be all right," she said. "My dad's helping out till then."Everything did go well Friday, with the restaurant racking up steady sales. Around 3 p.m., Mendoza and company cleaned up and went home.

But this week, Mendoza is not so sure.Hooters will suspend all flights out of Gary on Friday and not resume flying again until March 6. It is a step Hooters is taking in six other cities, citing increased fuel costs and low passenger loads.Hooters is the only regularly scheduled passenger airline operating at Gary/Chicago.

Despite the setback, the 31-year-old-entrepreneur is determined to see it through at Mendoza's Mexican Mix until Hooters comes back or another airline comes in."They are promoting so much that is good in Gary and trying to get away from that high crime rate thing," Mendoza said during a brief break in Friday's action. "It would be bad to have one more failure."For starters, Mendoza plans to draw a breakfast and lunch crowd from nearby businesses and Industrial Highway by staying open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday. She has applied for a liquor license, saying drinks are the No. 1 request she gets but can't fulfill.She also wants to serve more take-out and grow her catering business.

Mendoza competed against six other bidders to get the concession last June. A seldom-open Quiznos franchise operated there previously.Right now, Mendoza's job is symbolic of a whole wave of blue-collar jobs airport officials say airport expansion could attract if the FAA approves funding for runway work.Customers on Friday were hoping Mendoza can see it through until flights again are swooping in and out.

Elsie and Paul Nadeau, of Portage and Bradenton, Fla., self-described "snowbirds," said the airport and the restaurant beat everywhere else."Our kids can get us here in like 20 minutes," Elsie said. "This is the best spot we've ever found. We just hope they can develop it into more."Jerry and Beth Siminski, reconnecting with their region roots for the holidays, said they always use small airports when possible."We just like little airports," Beth said, as children Jared and Megan sipped on pop. "There's less hassle at little airports, and they're a lot more friendly."

Mendoza hopes the restaurant's small but growing reputation can pull it through the next two months. At the same time, she prays airport officials can "pull something out of their hat" and land another airline."Everyone has just been so glad to have us here," she said. "The airport employees, security guards, the people who fly. They have all just been so nice to us."