Woody’s at Watsonville Airport approaches a mid-March landing

Restaurant owner and chef Tim Wood is new to the Watsonville area, but he said he’s already met plenty of curious locals while working on his newest project at Watsonville Municipal Airport. 

“Lots of characters have stopped by to check us out when we’re unloading tables and chairs, painting and working on the electrical,” said Wood. “They’re ready to have their restaurant back.”

By mid-March, Wood plans to open the third location of his popular Woody’s chain of restaurants, which includes Woody’s at the Airport at Monterey Regional Airport and Woody’s at Del Mesa in Carmel Valley. Similar to his other restaurants, Woody’s at Watsonville Airport will offer approachable American fare such as burgers, pasta and large salads, and will aim to be a place that both flyers and the surrounding community can enjoy throughout the day. 

“This spot has been a neighborhood eatery for a long time. That’s our specialty,” said Wood. 

Before he opened his Woody’s at the Airport in 2020, Wood was the executive chef at the luxurious Bernardus Hotel & Spa and Carmel Valley Ranch resorts, both in Carmel Valley. But at his own restaurants, he’s focused on familiar fare, made with techniques he earned during his time in fine dining. “We’re trying to be like the mom-and-pop restaurants that I used to go to when I was a kid,” said Wood. “I love hipster stuff, but I’m more focused on quality. The burger’s got to have a good bun, and those pickles should be nice and crispy.”

At a Watsonville-based friend’s suggestion, Wood considered taking over the restaurant at the Watsonville airport about a year ago. But he was cautious about expanding outside of the Carmel area, where he’s lived for 25 years. Last June, the previous tenant, Ella’s at the Airport, closed suddenly after 12 years under two different owners. Not long after, Wood said he met Airport Director Rayvon Williams and had a good feeling when he walked into the room: “I’m not trying to become the next Rockefeller, but if something feels right, I just go with it.”

In September, the City of Watsonville, which owns the airport, selected Wood’s proposal to rent the space and run a restaurant there. The airport is operationally self-sufficient and doesn’t receive funds from the city, but the city council had to approve the lease after the terms were negotiated. Since then, Wood has updated the electrical, kitchen equipment, dishwashing area and lighting at the 40-year-old restaurant. He also purchased new tables and chairs for the dining room and patio. 

The public restaurant has been a key feature for the community airport for more than 40 years, and is a destination for private pilots and the general aviation set from across the region. The spot has historically been a place where large groups and clubs can meet, and Wood intends to carry on that tradition. The bar area also boasts five televisions to watch sports. “It’s a well-known airport in California because it has a full-service restaurant, and we want to celebrate that,” he said.

Within the next few weeks, Wood and his team of chefs plan to hire staff and hone in on the menu. Many of the dishes will mirror the offerings at his other two restaurants, but he’s open to adjusting the menu based on what his Watsonville customers want. Woody’s at Watsonville Airport will be open six days a week for lunch and dinner, with brunch on the weekends. 

Wood said he’s working to establish a neighborhood spot that the Watsonville community can enjoy for years to come. “Who would believe that locals come to dine at an airport? But those are our people, the ones that live in our community, and we’ve learned to appeal to airplane folks, too,” he said. 

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