Chicago’s Midway International Airport (MDW), with concessions developer Vantage Airport Group, is undergoing a series of concessions upgrades featuring a mix of new and existing brands with diverse ownership teams. The concessions expansion is part of the Midway Modernization Program.
Among the restaurants currently preparing to open or re-open this fall are Garrett Popcorn Shops, near Gate B14, and Connie’s Pizza, America’s Dog and Burger, White Sox Bar and Grill, M Burger, Beecher’s Handmade Cheese, Dunkin’ and Reilly’s Daughter, all in the MDW Central Market.
Retail outlets set to open this fall are Hudson, near Gate B9, Atrium, near Gate A5, Southside News, near Gate A11, and Evolve, Tumi and MAC/Jo Malone in the airport’s Central Market.
“We’re so excited to welcome more than a dozen new retail, food, and beverage brands to Midway this year as part of the Midway Modernization Program, the most significant investment in our Southwest Side airport in more than two decades,” said Jamie Rhee, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation, which operates MDW and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD). “With passenger volumes at Midway surging above pre-pandemic levels, it’s more important than ever to enhance the airport’s passenger experience through these concessions improvements, while providing thousands of jobs and contracting opportunities for local and diverse-owned businesses.”
The CDA noted that MDW boasts one of the highest Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) minority participation rates in the United States at 56 percent.
“It is exciting for our team at NorthAmerican Concessions to be adding three new locations to our already existing hometown favorites Harry Caray’s Shortstop, Arami, and Woodgrain Neapolitan Pizzeria,” said Deven Rand, president of ACDBE partner NorthAmerican Concessions, the operator that will open Connie’s Pizza, America’s Dog and Burger, and the airport’s second Garrett Popcorn location on Concourse B. “It is vital to have minority-owned, local businesses and brands as part of the airport to greet the millions of visitors to Chicago Midway, elevate the customer experience, and provide jobs for our communities.”
