I think that the exact airfield services is like rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic.
Given that well over 90% of light GA is people doing burger runs ("social flying") what is needed to make an airfield successful is a nice social environment.
This topic has been done to death here so many times, but basically the old GA anorak scene is a turnoff for most modern men, and for 99.9% of women regardless of whether modern or not.
One needs a lively social environment and then people will hang around, fly out of the place, and visit the place from elsewhere, and spent money there.
Take a look at any other activity which modern well-funded humans participate in. Individuals with any sort of money are highly strategic as to where they spend it.
One needs a nice cafe, good (not dirt cheap crap) food, clean so your hand doesn't get stuck to the table, and the based school(s) need to provide decent facilities for both students and "mature" pilots.