18
PEOPLE
Huttle up
flying with the spirit meet doug and Julie wagnon By Bob Huttle Profit in business comes from repeat customers, customers that boast about your product or service, and who bring friends with them. —W. Edwards Deming It was just a simple hamburger for me one late afternoon some years ago. But, among the myriad choices locally, I thought it was the best. How odd that a hamburger in a small, somewhat off-the-beaten-path restaurant—a place I’d rarely seen advertised or heard talked about— could be elevated to perfection. But this story is about much more than a hamburger or a restaurant. Rather, it’s about two people who have created a warm and friendly stopping place for many locals who have come to think of it as home. Julie and Doug Wagnon are a remarkable couple. They probably spend more hours together running The Spirit of San Luis Restaurant at our airport than they do at home. And they seem perfectly content doing so. They go to work, but not really. Their enjoyment for what they do is contagious the minute one walks in the front door, as I and many others have done over the past 28 years. Their smiles, laughter, and the sense that they are genuinely delighted to see you never wane. They make sure you don’t have to pay for parking by giving you a windshield pass for your car. They assist their fine waitstaff (Liz and Summer were former students of mine at SLOHS), moving among their customers, making sure all are satisfied, filling water glasses and cleaning tables. These are the owners? Truly, the restaurant is aptly named; if I was in Hawaii, I’d call it the Aloha Spirit. Here, the Spirit of San Luis is evident in everyone. Outside, there’s a patio with a clear view of the airport runway from every table and there’s a story behind this as well. Doug was a pilot, having earned his private license many years ago, who owned two planes and, eventually, the present building, which was originally
the old passenger terminal. When it became available in 1984, Doug was the owner of a liquor store in Cambria, and his friend, George Keenan, owned the pharmacy across the street. Both were also coowners of an airplane, which they had purchased in 1981. As sometimes happens, Fate interceded, and the day Doug and George landed at SLO Airport and viewed the abandoned hulk of the old terminal, a series of serendipitous events was set in motion. Doug had done a bit of sandwich-making and light catering and envisioned a small cafe for travelers. The building needed extensive work and Doug and George contacted their friend, contractor/ construction specialist/pilot Jerry Gray, seeking his expert advice and assistance. Voila! A lease was signed and the faded and forgotten structure was transformed inside and out. A patio emerged where a previous passenger ramp had stood. Floor to ceiling windows were surrounded by wood trim, appealing plants, flying photos and memorabilia, and a new coat of paint, everything under the supervision of Mike Gray, Jerry’s son and project manager.
Doug and Julie (center) with Randy and Barbara Baudendistel at the “Wedding” plane A U G U S T
2013
Journal PLUS
Up to now in the story, this entire endeavor was men’s work. But as anyone knows, a woman’s touch would be necessary for continuing success. And Doug, now flying solo as the venture moved forward, found his first woman savior in Barbara Teneck, who was hired as the restaurant’s first kitchen manager. Doug attributes the success of the first year to her and her ability to handle everything, from food orders and recipes, to menus and prep, to ... well, you name it. Doug says, “We depended