New accusation leveled over favoritism shown to Westmoreland airport restaurateur

Although the Westmoreland County Airport Authority thought a new lease agreement a year ago put to rest accusations about alleged favoritism shown to DeNunzio’s Italian Chophouse, the authority heard from a new critic Tuesday.

Ron Forkey, owner of Racer’s Sports Bar in Derry Township, complained that the airport’s vending consultant for the upcoming air show, slated for June 11-12, snubbed his inquiries about having a stand to serve hot food at the event.

“This isn’t DeNunzio’s Air Show. I hate to cause a problem, but I pay taxes, too, and have been hurt by the pandemic, too. Someone other than DeNunzio’s should be able to sell food at this community event,” Forkey said.

A year ago, DeNunzio’s existing lease to operate a restaurant at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity came under scrutiny. In June, the authority approved a new 5-year lease with owner Ron DeNunzio, with two additional 5-year options to renew. Their action came despite questions raised by county Commissioners Gina Cerilli Thrasher and Douglas Chew.

Thrasher, who attended the meeting, said Forkey had complained over a week ago to the commissioner’s office, and she directed him to the authority’s meeting.

“I thought we were told this wouldn’t happen, and it was going to be full of a number of food vendors,” Thrasher said.

The new lease with DeNunzio’s did not include an exclusivity clause that the restaurant would be the only food and beverage vendor at the event, airport Executive Director Gabe Monzo said. The airport’s vending consultant is Rocco Lamanna, who has arranged vendors for the show for years, according to Monzo.

Monzo said DeNunzio apparently contacted Lamanna of Washington County this spring after the show was announced and entered into an agreement to provide food and beverage as it has in previous years.

As part of the VIP packages offered during the event, the air show committee will receive $20,000 from the restaurateur in support of the show, Monzo said.

“What I told Rocco was that I didn’t want all the food vendors selling the same thing,” Monzo said. “I don’t want every vendor selling hamburgers, hot dogs and Italian sausages.”

Forkey, who has operated the restaurant along Route 982 at Lincoln Avenue just outside of Latrobe for 16 years, said that Lamanna told him “I could sell funnel cakes, but I don’t make funnel cakes.”

He said he was hoping to sell pierogies, halushki and stuffed cabbages, “a Polish platter.” But Forkey claimed Lamanna said only DeNunzio’s could sell hot food and beverages at the event.

Attempts to reach Lamanna for comment were unsuccessful.

Authority chairman Janice Smarto, who said authority members were not aware of the issue prior to Tuesday’s meeting, asked Monzo whether it was too late for Forkey to make arrangements to sell food at the event.

Monzo said it was not. He intended to call Lamanna to clarify any misunderstanding.

Other vendors interested in selling at the event can call Lamanna at 412-310-7781, the authority said.

“Next year, we’ll solicit bids for beverage and food vending for the show,” Monzo said.