The San Diego Country Regional Airport Authority Board has approved operators for six concessions packages in a move that finalizes the concessions portion of the new Terminal 1 at San Diego International Airport.
High Flying Foods, Areas San JV LLC, Paradies Lagardère @SAN, LLC, Marshall Retail Group LLC, Emerging Domestic Market Ventures Inc., and McDonald’s USA all were awarded contracts.
Four of the six concessionaire operators selected are new to the Airport Authority and two of the operators, High Flying Foods and Paradies Lagardère, have existing leases for restaurant and retail space. All operators will have ACDBE-certified (Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) business participation through either joint venture partnerships, subleases, or vendor/suppliers. Two leases will be assigned to or operated by an ACDBE prime concessionaire.
“We were extremely impressed with all the proposals for restaurants and retail shops we received,” said Kimberly Becker, CEO and president of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. “Proposers were required to meet specific concept, design and operational criteria that will help SAN offer our customers a wide selection of regional and national brands. We were pleased that all of the proposals were competitive and compelling.”
On the food and beverage side, High Flying Foods locked in seven new locations. SAN had previously awarded another seven locations to High Flying Foods in a separate package, bringing the operator’s total footprint in the new Terminal 1 to 14 locations. Locations in the latest package award include Understory, a bar and small plates venue; Novo Brazil Brewing, a local brewery that will also offer appetizers; El Pez Kitchen & Sushi; Ambrogio 15, a pizza concept; The Taco Stand; Herb & Air, a mini food hall; and Chick-fil-A.
Areas won the right to operate five restaurants/bars in the new terminal, including Novecientos Grados: A Tony Hawk Public House, which will offer full-service dining; SIP Wine & Beer, a bar with small plates; quick-serve concept Luna Grill Mediterranean Kitchen; Carnita’s Snack Shack, another quick-serve option; and Mr. Moto’s Pizza.
ACDBE restauranteur Gonzalo de la Melena, owner of Emerging Domestic Market Ventures, LLC partnered with Grab & Go Subs and Café Moto coffee and will bring SAN passengers that local concept. Fast-food operator McDonald’s USA will also open a location in the new terminal.
All the food and beverage contracts will span 15 years.
Marshall Retail Group, LLC won the contract to operate four retail locations, including The Arts District Market, a convenience and specialty retail marketplace. MRG’s winning bid also includes Liberty Station Gifts; WHSmith San Diego and The Commissary with USS Midway Museum, a combination convenience and specialty retail store.
Paradies Lagardère was selected to operate three locations: a Hip & Humble and Gaslamp Marketplace combo store; another combination store featuring Univision Travel Shop along with No Boundaries, a clothing offering, and Goods Express, a travel essentials store featuring Amazon’s Just Walk Out touchless payment system; and SAN Supply Co., a convenience retail store with a portion of the location operating as another Goods Express location.
Both retail contracts span 12 years.
In the board meeting, Becker, congratulated the winners. “We put you through a very grueling process and we are thrilled with the results,” Becker said. “We really look forward to the partnership.”
“To the team, you just did an incredible job,” Becker added, addressing the SAN team at the meeting. “It took every different part of this organization to make this happen.” She said the road ahead will be challenging but she looks forward to bringing the entire project to fruition.
