Hudson Group and Paradies Lagardère are among five groups that have been awarded contracts for specialty retail and services at Indianapolis International Airport (IND).
These contracts are the first round of approvals IND will make as part of its concessions refresh initiative that launched in 2016 to address the pending expiration of 43 existing retailers, services, and food and beverage locations. The airport said the new retailers will provide a mix of national and local brands, many of which will feature locally sourced products in their stores, reflecting the culture and community of Indianapolis and the state, all focused on elevating customer experiences at IND.
According to the airport, the five retail groups were chosen from a field of 16 entities that responded to the Indy airport’s solicitation. The new retail contracts represent a 45 percent increase in local sourcing of products grown or produced in Indiana, a 40 percent increase in retail concepts that represent the Indianapolis culture and a 92 percent increase in diverse business participation.
“We’ve been talking about the concessions refresh with the community and hundreds of diverse business vendors for more than two years, and today is the next big step in significantly enhancing a sense of place at the airport and elevating our guests’ shopping experience in the terminal,” said Mario Rodriguez, executive director of the Indianapolis Airport Authority.
Hudson Group will open a total of four news and convenience shops in Civic Plaza, Concourse A and Concourse B, with two headlining Indiana-themed names and designs and all featuring locally crafted goods and products. There will also be a retail bookstore in Concourse A featuring a wide selection of books, newspapers, magazines and gifts.
Additionally, Hudson is bringing nationally-recognized stores. Tumi, featuring high-end luggage, handbags and travel accessories, will be in a newly-constructed space in Concourse B, and Vineyard Vines, offering casual and professional men’s and women’s clothing, will be located in Concourse A.
Hudson will also open Tech on the Go in a newly-constructed space in Concourse B, with a virtual reality/gaming station and a FAO Schwarz shop in Civic Plaza.
Paradies Lagardère will open three news and convenience shops that will offer locally-crafted goods. Two of the stores will be Indiana themed: Fountain Square Market and Mass Ave Essentials.
Paradies Lagardère also won contracts to open No Boundaries, a sports clothing store, and Esavvy/The Scoreboard, offering gaming and electronic products, as well as sporting attire from professional teams. Both stores will be located in Concourse A. In Concourse B, Paradies Lagardère will open MAC, a cosmetic brand, and Brighton, which offers men’s and women’s accessories,
Just Pop In!, a locally-owned and -operated gourmet popcorn shop, will enhance their current location in Concourse B to include a bubbles bar that will feature popcorn and wine pairings. JPI will also offer two kiosks in Concourse A and Civic Plaza to offer more passengers their creative collaborations with gourmet popcorn and local flavors, such as Sun King Brewery and Smoking Goose.
Another local and long-standing airport service provider, Enroute Spa, will enhance their two locations in Concourse A and Concourse B. Enroute Spa is a locally-owned and -operated spa that includes massages, manicures, pedicures and other upscale salon offerings and products.
Finally, Natalie’s Candy Jar will move from its current location to open new stores in both Concourse A and B.
IND said the next round of concessions refresh contract approvals is anticipated at “a subsequent board meeting in early 2019.” That is expected to include both retail and food and beverage contracts.
