Tampa International (TPA) will be inviting several prime operators into the airport if the recommended winners among six food and beverage and five retail packages are approved in June.
Nine companies were recommended across the 11 food and retail groupings by panelists. The airport has utilized a single master concessionaire model for decades.
The high-scoring proposals included a heavy dose of local concepts.
TPA Hospitality Partners, a group led by Delaware North, and HMSHost each have been recommended for two packages. Other primes recommended for food packages include SSP America and HBF Tampa Partners.
Five companies each were given the highest score in one of five retail packages. They were Paradies, NewsLink of Tampa, Stellar Partners, Hudson Group and World Duty Free Group.
HMSHost was recommended as the winner of package one, which covered branded coffee, casual dining and two bars. HMSHost and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise partner Tinsley-Bridgeman received the highest score by proposing five Starbucks locations, three of which are Starbucks Reserve or Starbucks Evenings Reserve; two Cigar City locations; a Pei Wei; Columbia Restaurant Cafe; PF Chang’s and The Gasparilla Bar, a local pirate concept. Those concepts will be spread across Airsides A, C, E and F, as well as the main terminal.
The pair also was recommended for package six, a branded burger category. Together, the companies proposed Burger 21 for Airsides A and C and a Wendy’s for the main terminal.
In addition to majority shareholder Delaware North, TPA Hospitality Partners’ ownership group includes JV Concessions Inc., owned by Tampa Bay Lightning hockey owner Jeff Vinik, and Mise En Place, Superior Hospitality and Green Clay, each of which is Florida-based. The partnership was recommended for package three, which covered casual-dining outlets in Airsides C, E and F, by proposing RumFish Grill, Four Green Fields and The Cafe by Mise En Place.
The group’s other win was package five, which was made up of four casual-dining facilities and a snack concept: New York New York Pizza, Auntie Anne’s & Duomo Gelato, PDQ, Panda Express and Chick-fil-A.
SSP America was the high scorer for package two, which included casual-dining restaurants in the main terminal and Airside A, along with marches in Airsides C and F. The winning casual-dining concepts were Ducky’s, a restaurant concept with Tampa Bay Rays star Evan Longoria among its owners in Airside A, and the Hard Rock Cafe in the Main Terminal. The Marche in Airside C is slated to include Bavaro’s, Louis Pappas, Goody Goody, Cafe Con Leche, Ulele Bar and Fitlife Foods; the Marche in F will include Bella’s Italian Cafe, Buddy Brew Coffee, Fitlife Foods, Le Grand Comptoir, Square 1 Burgers & Bar and Yogurtology.
The highest score for package four was claimed by HBF Tampa Partners, made up of Hojeij Branded Foods and Bay Coffee & Tea. Three quick-service restaurants and three branded coffee shops comprised the package. Two of the coffee shops proposed were Illy Espressamente. The third was Bay Coffee & Tea Co. A Qdoba Mexican Grill, a Potbelly Sandwich Shop and a combination of Chick-fil-A and Boar’s Head (on Sundays only) are the QSRs.
There also were five retail packages. Paradies, along with partners Estes JV, Innovative Brewing and Massage Studio, won the top ranking for retail package number one with a bid that includes Shades of Time, Dylan’s Candy Bar, CNBC, Spanx, The Body Shop, WFLA News Channel 8, Corsa Collections, Tampa Bay Times, Hyde Park News, Ybor City News, PGA Tour Shop and Tampa Life.
The top score in the second package was claimed by NewsLink of Miami, Siboney Wine & Spirits Merchants and Janet Cruz. They proposed Newslink, Time Zone, Victoria’s Secret, In Tune Electronics, Air Essentials, Peace Love World, Bay to Bay News, two retail markets in the main terminal with several brands.
Package three went to the partnership of Stellar Partners and Black and Denim Inc. They will bring to TPA InMotion Entertainment, Ron Jon Surf Shop, Swarovski, Shop HSN and TravelSmith, and three Stellar Bay stores.
Hudson Group, along with partners Concessions America and Newburns Management Group, won package four, which includes three technology stores: Tech on the Go/ Monster, Tech on the Go and Tech on the Go/Belkin. And World Duty Free Group, with the highest score in package five, plans to bring two World Duty Free Tampa stores.
The proposals now go to the desk of Joe Lopano, CEO of TPA, who can share his thoughts as part of the process. Final rankings will be brought to the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority for review in June.
