One of Hollister’s most popular breakfast restaurants, Dingaling Café, has moved from the airport to the former home of Country Rose Café on Fourth Street.
Dingaling and owner Rosa Diaz had to be out of the airport location by the end of June. She was working to get the new site opened as soon as possible.
The city owns the Hollister Municipal Airport and the building that housed Dingaling, which had been operating there for seven years under Diaz. Airport Manager Mike Chambless said the city went in that direction because of floor and kitchen repairs needed to the building.
Diaz explained that the business went to a month-to-month lease after five years. She said she was unaware of that until the city in April gave her a 30-day notice – which she had extended to 60 days.
“I wasn’t going to do that to my workers,” said Diaz of the 10 or so Dingaling employees.
Now she is focused on getting her new location running smoothly on Fourth Street.
“I just want to run my business,” she said.
Chambless said the city’s decision on whether to rent out that airport building again depends on the estimated cost of repairs. He said the annual revenue from Dingaling rent was about $15,000. He said if the repairs are estimated at $400,000 – “it’s probably not a good idea” to go in that direction again.
