Four new food court offerings have arrived at McGhee Tyson (TYS), and two have landed at Lambert-St. Louis International (STL).
“We are very pleased to begin our new relationship with the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority and see these popular and innovative brands as a great way to welcome visitors to the Knoxville area,” says Renee Tedesco, vice president of business development for HMSHost Corp., which won the contract for the food and beverage concessions last year.
The concessions, post-security in the main terminal, include Starbucks, offering its popular coffees; Quiznos Sub, featuring made-to-order sandwiches, as well as soups and grab-and-go salads; Cinnabon, with its freshly baked cinnamon rolls; and ZIA, a new brand aimed at health-conscious consumers with a menu of fruit smoothies, soft-serve frozen treats, and high-performance snacks and juice parfaits.
“We strive to provide our passengers with quality services and we continually work to exceed their travel expectations,” says Richard W. Krieg, chairman of the MKAA Board of Commissioners. “HMSHost fulfilled its commitment to expeditiously deliver these name brand concessions to serve McGhee Tyson Airport travelers.”
It is the first time HMSHost has had a presence at the Knoxville, Tenn., airport.
In St. Louis, HMSHost and St. Louis-based joint venture partners D&D Concessions LLC toasted the openings of Missouri Vineyards and Brioche Doree Cafe.
“We’re excited about these new concepts which offer distinctively new and fresh menus in a stunning space beneath our newly restored historic domed ceilings,” says Richard Hrabko, director of Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. “This is just the first phase in our continuing effort to upgrade the customer dining experience. No doubt we’re off to a great start.”
The city and the region around it have produced wine for more than 160 years; many of the original area wineries reopened in the 1960s. Missouri Vineyards brings some of that flavor to passengers at STL, and features local boutique vineyards and award-winning varietals. The menu offers small bites such as smoked salmon, and soups, salads and sandwiches, all designed to complement the featured wines. A wine tasting is offered every Thursday.
Next door to Missouri Vineyards sits Brioche Doree Cafe, offering sandwiches, garden salads, artisan breads, pastries and custom-roasted coffees – all set in the venue of a country French atmosphere.
Both restaurants are on pre-security on the ticketing level of the Main Terminal.
“The side by side proximity of these concepts is a bonus,” says Stephen Douglas, vice president of business development for HMSHost. “We’ve used the French history of St. Louis and long-standing wine production in this region to create a true sense of place at the airport.”
Darryl Jones, managing partner of D&D Concessions LLC, says “these are exciting times” for the joint venture partnership.
“We have the opportunity to share Director Hrabko’s vision of creating a new airport experience for our travelers and promoting our great city by bringing local food and flavor to travelers,” he says.
