Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) has finalized plans for 23
concessions packages totaling 31 locations, part of a new concessions
program for the airport’s Terminal A, which is undergoing renovation as
part of the airport’s $1.9B terminal renewal and improvement program.
A request for proposals for nine additional packages will be issued in
the next month or two, according to public affairs manager David Magaé±a.
Those packages were included in the original RFP, but “some didn’t get
bids and some didn’t get acceptable bids,” he says.
Build-out of the new concessions will be staggered over the next three
years in line with the overall terminal renovations, which will be done
in three stages over three years, Magaé±a says. “In some cases,
[concessionaires] are not going to actually build out for a couple of
years and won’t be open for another three years,” he says of the
recently awarded contracts.
The renovated Terminal A, the first of four set to undergo revamps at
DFW, will be redesigned to better serve travelers. Many concessions will
be grouped in “villages” around security checkpoints and SkyLink
stations, Magaé±a says. In Terminal A, there will be about 50% more space
devoted to concessions, although the actual number of concessions will
remain roughly the same.
The Terminal A concessions awards include several concepts that are new
to DFW. A partnership of Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality
Services/Four Leaf Ventures will bring two of the new restaurants, The
Salt Lick Bar-B-Que and Twisted Root Burger, to the airport.
“We are excited to expand our presence at Dallas/Fort Worth
International Airport,” says Matt King, president of Delaware North
Companies Travel Hospitality Services, adding that the company will
“look forward to continuing to bid on opportunities at one of the
premier airports in the world.”
HMSHost Corp., in partnership with F. Howell, Ltd., will also offer two
concepts new to DFW, Cowboy Stadium Legends Club and California Pizza
Kitchen, as well as Lorena Garcia Tapas. Anthony Alessi, vice president
of business development for HMSHost called the lineup “a terrific group
of fine dining flavors for the DFW traveler.”
Other food and beverage concepts that will be new to DFW include Qdoba
Mexican Grill, operated by a joint venture between Bassam DFW LLC and
Southwest Minority Financial Group; Ling & Louie’s, operated by a
joint venture of Pop Restaurants LLC and Four Leaf Ventures; and two
locations of Pinkberrry, operated by a joint venture of Branded Works
Inc. and Southern Cultures LLC.
“We are ready to operate a first class concession in a first class
Airport,” says Ruth Ann Menutis, president and CEO of Branded Works,
Inc. She recalls her previous operations at DFW Airport with former
company, The Grove, which she and partner Paul Valteau sold in 2004. “We
miss our DFW family and are extremely excited to be working with them
again.”
Other food and beverage contracts were awarded for Vino Volo, operated
by Vino Volo in partnership with D&B Mitchell Group; Au Bon Pain,
operated by a partnership of FGR Food Corp. and FGR Managers; Auntie
Anne’s, operated by Texas Pretzels Inc., and Einstein Bros. Bagels,
operated by a joint venture of Concessions International and MBC
Concessions Inc. Continuing concepts in DFW Terminal A will be
Pappasito’s, Pappadeaux, McDonald’s, Popeyes and Starbucks.
Among retail concepts that are new to DFW is 7-Eleven, to be operated by
HDS Retail & Partners at DFW. Marco DiBernardo, business
development manager for LS Travel Retail North America (formerly HDS
Retail North America), says the 7-Eleven will be the first in-terminal
location for the convenience store brand in the United States, although a
corporate-operated 7-Eleven has been in Vancouver International (YVR)
for several years. 7-Eleven also has several locations on airport
property, but not in terminals, in the United States. HDS Retail &
Partners at DFW will also operate a Gepetto’s toy store, also new to
DFW, and a USA Today Travel Zone/Ruta Maya coffee in Terminal A.
Juicy Couture will be a new-to-DFW store, operated by a joint venture of
Hudson Group and Regali. The joint venture also will operate a store
anchored by Hudson News. Sharing that space will be Hudson Booksellers
and Dunkin’ Donuts (see related News Flash below).
Talie, another new-to-DFW concept, will be operated by a joint venture
of CBR Specialty Retail and Howell-Mickens. Other specialty retail
awards include Johnston & Murphy, operated by a partnership of
Genesco and Corliss Stone-Littles; two locations of Natalie’s Candy Jar,
operated by Melshire DFW LP; Texas America!, operated by Olde Mill Co.;
L’Occitane, operated by L’Occitane Inc. and Corliss Stone-Littles; and
XpresSpa, operated by a joint venture of Binn & Partners and OHM
Concession Group.
The retail awards also included contracts for two stores operated by a joint venture of Project Horizon and APW Holdings.
“We are extremely pleased to be a part of the DFW Terminal A program
with our InMotion Entertainment and Soundbalance electronic store
concepts,” said Jeremy Smith, president of InMotion Entertainment.
In addition to the USA Today Travel Zone/Ruta Maya and the Hudson
News/Hudson Booksellers/Dunkin’ Donuts combination stores in the news
and news cafe category, a partnership between The Paradies Shops and
Gifts Inc. was awarded a contract to operate a combination Teavana/CNBC
News store. Teavana is a new brand to DFW. Also in the news sector, two
locations were awarded to Southwest News, operated by Southwest
Concessions Inc.
