SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. – In January 2025, a fire devastated the historic Skyway Cafe at Felts Field, a beloved Spokane landmark for over 100 years. The fire left significant damage, impacting the community deeply.
Leroy Payne, a devoted customer and car enthusiast, decided to help.
“The very first thing I did when I got the car was go out and buy a set of wheels and tires for it, cause you got to be cool,” Payne said, demonstrating his passion for cars.
He proposed a car show to aid the cafe’s revival.
“Well, let’s put on a car show,” he added.
The car show drew support from former customers, including Harvey LeDoux, who expressed his feelings about the fire.
“I think that was, that was a terrible, terrible thing,” LeDoux said.
The event also brought back memories of the cafe’s unique ambiance.
“You could go and sit down and watch the planes go on and come back,” LeDoux reminisced.
Sandra Melters, who has run the Skyway Cafe for 20 years, was touched by the community’s support.
“I didn’t realize we were so important, you know, to the community,” she said.
Reflecting on her long history with the cafe, she mentioned, “It’s our livelihood. It’s everything we’ve worked for.”
The community’s efforts have set the stage for the cafe’s reopening on January 2 of next year. Melters is optimistic about the future.
“It’s been a struggle up till now,” she acknowledged, but she is “very blessed and excited” to resume serving the community.
