Yellowknife (Dec 15/04) - A plan to replace a popular restaurant at the Yellowknife airport with a second baggage carousel has been scrapped.

Vivian Squires, who owns the Navigator restaurant with her husband Dennis, said they were told last week that they can stay where they are.

Dennis and Vivian Squires got an early Christmas present last week when they learned their airport restaurant won't have to make way for airport renovations.

Until last week, the Squires' were pondering their options after being informed last summer that they might have to move to make way for an $11.2 million renovation project at the airport.

Squires believes the threat of legal action stopped the government in its tracks.

"You just can't all of a sudden say 'we're going fast foods when you've put a tender out for a full-serve restaurant,'" said Squires.

The couple re-purchased the restaurant after a six-year hiatus last March. The purchase agreement included a five-year contract with the territorial government, giving them exclusive rights to run the restaurant out of its current location on the south side of the terminal building.

But a few months later they were told they might have to move or close shop altogether to make room for a second baggage carousel in the arrival lounge.

They were also told the government was considering replacing the restaurant with a fast food court.

Marvin Zaozirny, director of airports, said the decision to leave the restaurant alone had nothing to do with the threat of legal action from the Squires.

"The contractors that provided bids on the (renovation) project itself have indicated to us that the best option from a cost point of view is to simply leave the restaurant where it is," said Zaozirny.

Government plans now call for the removal of administrative offices at the far south end of the airport to make room for the second carousel, said Marvin Ringham, manager of airport buildings and planning.

Transportation Minister Michael McLeod is expected to announce a number of changes this week regarding the $11.2 million renovation project.