Areas, HMSHost and Caribou Coffee Co. are among the winners selected to develop new food and beverage concepts at Minneapolis-St. Paul International (MSP). The Metropolitan Airports Commission’s board has approved bids to develop 30 new concepts in the airport’s Terminal 1, also known as the Lindbergh Terminal.
“Our goal was to provide a unique mix of locally and nationally branded restaurants with a wide variety of menu items and price points to satisfy everyone’s taste and budget,” says MAC CEO Brian Ryks. “The vendors selected to develop the next phase of MSP’s concessions program will greatly enhance the options available to travelers and help solidify the airport’s reputation as one of the best in the nation.”
The Metropolitan Airports Commission says it cannot release details of specific proposals – including restaurant names — until contracts are finalized. All contracts will run for 10 years.
The opportunities were divided into seven batches. A joint venture led by Areas – Areas Aero MSP JV, LLC – won three batches. In the first batch won by Areas, the airport had requested a local full-service steak and seafood bar and restaurant and a fast-casual Asian restaurant and bar. For the second batch, the airport requested a four-venue food court, a full-service casual Mexican or Latin cuisine bar and restaurant and a nationally branded full-service casual bar and restaurant. For the third batch won by Areas, the airport requested a three-venue food court, a full-service café and bar with limited food service and two full-service casual bars and restaurants.
A joint venture led by HMSHost, called Host BGB SCA MSP, LLC and involving Pady Regnier of St. Croix Airport Retail and Robert Grace of Be Graceful Bakery and Catering LLC, won two batches. The first batch includes six food court venues and a nationally branded full-service casual bar and restaurant. In the second batch won by the HMSHost-led team, the airport requested a fresh-pressed juice bar, a fast-casual limited restaurant and bar, a three-venue food court and a full-service café and bar with limited food service.
HMSHost says its contract involves 12 food and beverage spaces. It plans to operate On the Border, PinKU Japanese Street Food, Shake Shack, Moe’s Southwest, Auntie Anne’s, Firehouse Subs, and Starbucks Coffee in the terminal’s main mall. In Concourse C, the group will offer Joe & The Juice, Bottle Rocket from Blue Plate Restaurant Group, Tattersall Distilling, Smashburger, Chick-fil-A, and Starbucks Coffee.
“HMSHost is very excited to build on the strong partnership that we have built over the years with the MAC with this opportunity to open a variety of leading dining choices in Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport,” says Michael Price, vice president of business development for HMSHost.
Caribou Coffee Company will expand its coffee footprint at MSP by retaining one coffee location and adding a second. Caribou MSP Airport, a joint venture between Caribou Coffee and Francicorp, won two packages. The first is located where a current Caribou Coffee stands. The second is the current location of a Starbucks in the airport mall, as well as non-concession space.
MSP said venues will be constructed in phases to minimize disruption to travelers. The first phase of construction will begin in late February 2018, after the Super Bowl is played in Minneapolis. Construction is expected to continue through late 2019.
