Matt and Marianne Pacha’s dream to open a restaurant will launch this fall, as Flight Bar + Grille opens on the north side of Huxley.
With a name and theme inspired by the local Ballard school district’s mascot, the Bombers, Flight takes off with several references to airplanes.
“The Ballard Bombers mascot is a B-52 airplane so we want to tie into that,” Marianne said. “And we plan on offering a lot of different kinds of flights — beer and other different, fun flights, maybe some food flights, some wine flights, things like that.”
The business name’s nod to the community is also an indication of the type of atmosphere the Pachas are looking to foster — a hometown place where everyone feels welcome.
The Pachas have lived in Huxley for four years and are originally from a similarly sized town in eastern Iowa. They have a son, Warren, who will be 2 in November.
“When we moved to Huxley, we felt right at home,” Marianne said. “We’ve tried to immerse ourselves in the community, and we’re really looking forward to raising our kids here.
“We want to be really involved and give back to the community through our business, as well.”
Flight will offer a wide selection of menu items, like burgers, sandwiches, flatbreads, salads and appetizers. It will also have 24 beers on tap and a diverse selection of liquor and wine.
Flights of golf will be available on simulators
Flight will feature the restaurant and bar on one side and will have state-of-the-art golf simulators on the other.
“People can order food and drink and play on the golf simulators,” Marianne said. “The areas will be connected from the inside and will also have separate entrances from the outside.”
There will be a lounge area in the golfing space, and customers will be able to reserve tee times.
“With Ballard Country Club just down the street, we thought during the offseason people could have a winter league on the simulators,” Marianne said.
The Pachas are planning other fun activities, like bags tournaments and other games on the patio, live music and other fun community events.
More Huxley business news:
Community is a big part of the atmosphere the Pachas want to cultivate.
“We’re less than a half-mile from the football stadium in Huxley, so we plan on having tailgate events before games and also some postgame specials,” Marianne said. “We’ll be a great place for people to congregate after all Ballard athletic events.”
Flight will have carry-out options, and online ordering will be available. Curbside pickup will be available, and in-house customers will be able to order electronically from their tables.
“We’re going to be a kid-friendly, fun place where people can come and bring their family,” she said. “We’ll also be a place where you can come wind down with a drink.”
This is the Pachas’ first foray into the restaurant and bar business. Matt has recently been operations manager for the Lincoln Center Hy-Vee in Ames.
“So he’s not new to the food industry, but this will be a new venture for us as far as opening our own restaurant,” Marianne Pacha said.
The location is a new strip mall being constructed along Highway 69, north of the Fareway store. The new development is called The Landing, and Flight will occupy the last space on the far north side.
“We’ll be the very first one as you come into town, right behind the ‘Welcome to Huxley’ sign,” she said. “We’ll have a large patio that overlooks a retention pond, as well.”
The interior will have an industrial feel, with some exposed brick and polished concrete floors, Marianne said.
“We think it will be a really good atmosphere, where people can bring their kids. We’ll have a kids’ menu,” she said. “We’ll also be a place to transition at nighttime for adults to come and enjoy a night out or a date night.”
