Golf course restaurant lease discussed

RITZVILLE – The City Council mulled over a lease agreement for the golf course restaurant known as Porky’s Clubhouse Grill during its regular meeting Nov. 1.

The terms of the proposed lease require the restaurant to pay the city a monthly rental fee of $350 for November and December 2022. The agreement exempts the months of January and February, but rental charges will resume next year and continue from March through December.

If accepted, the lease will require the restaurant to provide, at a minimum, snack food, beverages and related products for golf course patrons. During the golfing season (April through October), the clubhouse must open by 8 a.m. and close no earlier than an hour before dusk.

At the council meeting, Bruce Benzel of the Ritzville Golf Association that the restaurant has applied for and is expected to receive a state liquor license in the coming weeks.

He also noted that the golf course has generated significant revenue this year, due in part to the restaurant owner’s efforts.

Resident Barry Boyer spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting to voice his disapproval of the city’s proposed rental fees.

He said that the city should forego the rental charges to enable the restaurant business to succeed, noting that the additional costs might hurt the restaurant’s profitability.

Councilman Mike Schrag countered that the city needs the rental income to cover utility expenses and other costs incurred by the restaurant.

As previously reported in The Journal, the restaurant owner, Jackeline Pacheco, is an Arizona native who established the first Porky’s two years ago as a hot dog stand in Moses Lake.

At the Ritzville site, Jackeline takes orders and relays them to her husband, Mario Flores, who prepares food in the kitchen.

Several members of the council praised the restaurant’s welcoming atmosphere and potential to draw more local residents and visitors to the golf course.