Local Pub Chain Among Newest Brands to Sign Leases
CLEVELAND, September 29, 2009 – BAA Cleveland, the developer of the AIRMALL® at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), has finalized leased agreements with another group of retail, food and beverage concepts that are committed to opening units at the new AIRMALL® in the coming months.
Preparing to open the tap at CLE is The Pub, an Ohio-based restaurant chain offering an upscale, classic pub experience similar to those in Britain. The AIRMALL® unit (3,800 sq. ft) will feature traditional fare such as bangers and mash and fish and chips, along with a host of British-inspired appetizers, sandwiches, toasted Panini’s, salads and desserts. Construction will begin in November 2009. Passengers at CLE should be able to order a pint at The Pub by next February, which is when the restaurant is scheduled to open in the main terminal by the Concourse B security checkpoint.
The other concepts that have signed leases to operate units at the AIRMALL® include:
- Sbarro (900 sq. ft.), which will be situated in Concourse D and offer a menu of home-made Italian cuisine, such as hand tossed pizza, subs, pastas, fresh salads and homemade desserts. Sbarro opened its first mall-based restaurant in 1967 and has since grown to nearly 1,000 restaurants worldwide. Sbarro is expected to open at CLE in late December 2009.
- Quaker Steak & Lube (1,800 sq. ft.), operated by Ohio-based AVI Foodsystems, will open in Concourse B to offer its “Best Wings USA” with a variety of signature sauces. “The Lube” serves more than 70 million wings annually, and has won more than 100 local, national and international awards for its sauce recipes. Construction will begin in November of 2009. The unit is expected to open in February 2010.
- BluWire (700 sq. ft.), located in Concourse D, is scheduled for opening in February 2010. BluWire allows travelers to stay connected with wireless accessories and electronic gadgets by putting travelers’ needs first.
“It’s all about quality and choice, and at the AIRMALL® at CLE, BAA Cleveland is committed to offering both to our Cleveland passengers by partnering with high-quality retailers and restaurants. These latest units will add to an already robust retail concessions program at CLE,” said Tina LaForte, vice president of BAA Cleveland. “Moreover, passengers can shop and dine knowing they are doing so at ‘Regular Mall Prices…Guaranteed,’ a hallmark of the AIRMALL®.”
“Passengers are recognizing and quickly embracing the transformation of concessions at CLE,” added Airport Director Ricky Smith. “Whether they’re searching for a meal on the go or a gift for someone special, passengers will be very pleased with the variety of new and exciting options at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, and there is still more to come.”
The City of Cleveland forged a 10-year contract with BAA Cleveland in February 2008 to develop and manage concessions at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE). The city anticipates the AIRMALL® will double the current participation rate of local and minority-owned companies, double the number of concession jobs, and double retail sales figures during the next decade.
When complete, the AIRMALL® at CLE will occupy 76,000 square feet of retail space.