Brian Hendricks has always dreamt of having an aeroplane as a restaurant. To realise this he has acquired the ZS-JRI Boeing 737 from FlySafair and will convert it into a restaurant to be situated at the Formula K race circuit in Morehill.
“It started as a wild fantasy. We started planning a restaurant with a difference. We wanted to give diners a different culinary experience and started picturing an aeroplane as a restaurant positioned on the raceway,” said Hendricks.
Situated right at the centre of the raceway, this gigantic aircraft – which is to be renamed Shirley’s – is hard to miss and will surely be the centre of attention. Hendricks said they decided to place it on the track to give the raceway more exposure.
“We are in a partnership with Formula K. The amount of interest we have generated so far will also give exposure to the track. We want more people to come here because I think some people still don’t know that we have a raceway in Benoni.
“It had always been on my mind to do something different. We wanted to do something bigger and better for Benoni and the raceway,” Hendricks added.
This aircraft, as noted in the Pilot’s Post, was one of the few remaining B737-4Q8s.
The Post further added that the aircraft had been flying for 29 years, which is old in aviation terms. It made its last flight on June 22 last year from the Cape Town International Airport to OR Tambo International Airport and had been grounded since.
Flights that have reached their twilight years are usually cut up and sold as scrap metal.
For the ZS-JRI, however, Hendricks has given it a new career as a diner and social and corporate events venue.
The plane’s seats, overhead bins and cockpit have all been removed.
Hendricks said they will have a full-on restaurant with a bar and kitchen and once construction is completed they will turn the cockpit into a flight simulator.
The aircraft will be converted into a 52-seater restaurant and exclusive events venue and viewing deck to watch racing on the track.
“Shirley’s will sure give diners a once in a lifetime experience. With a bar overlooking the track, diners will enjoy their meals while also not missing out on anything happening on the raceway.”
Hendricks said with the buzz Shirley’s has created, Benoni will become an attraction again.
“Benoni is ready for something new. We have had a very hard two years of Covid. Everybody is tired of it and this is something different. This is us putting Benoni on the map.”
The plane arrived at the raceway on December 14 and the first phase of construction has already begun.
Hendricks is hopeful that if the weather stays clear, the restaurant will open in April.
The reason the venue is being named Shirley’s will only be revealed at the opening as, according to the owners, “this is a special story”.
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