DALEY OPENS CHICAGO-ORIENTED CONCESSIONS TRIANGLE AT MIDWAY
New Restaurants and Shops on the Midway Boulevard Employ 330
(CHICAGO) August 28, 2001 - Mayor Richard M. Daley today formally opened the new concessions triangle at Midway Airport, consisting of 23 shops and restaurants, almost 95 percent of them locally owned.
"When we began planning the expansion of Midway Airport some years ago, we set out to build a state-of-the-art airport that would maintain Chicago's national leadership in air transportation and handle 17 million passengers a year efficiently and comfortably," Daley said at an airport news conference.
"But we wanted more than that. We wanted first-class amenities, so that travelers would know they were arriving in a first-class city. We wanted to provide business opportunities for Chicago companies and we wanted an airport that said ‘Chicago' to travelers, from the moment they arrived.
"And we achieved all of that with our new Concessions Triangle we're formally opening today."
The concessions triangle, dubbed the "Midway Boulevard," has created 330 new jobs. It covers approximately 23,000 square feet and is conveniently located just beyond the security checkpoint for convenient passenger use to and from departure gates.
The shops and restaurants feature unique Chicago cuisine, souvenirs and music in a brightly lit environment with airfield views. Brick storefronts, colorful canopies and lighting convey a distinctive Chicago ambiance.
The food court features a higher proportion of local restaurants than any other large U.S. airport.
The stores and restauranteurs include: Harry Caray's, Luigi Stefani Pizza, Lalo's Mexican Restaurant, Potbelly Sandwich Works, King Wah Express, Illinois Bar & Grill, Gold Coast Dogs, Pegasus on the Fly, Reilly's Daughter, Ben & Jerry's, Viva's Hallmark, George's Music Room, Fannie May Candies, Spirit of the Red Horse, Chicago Treasures, USGA Golf House, Chatham Business Center, Hudson's Book Corner and EuroMart Café, "Relay at Midway" Newsstand, Wilsons Leather, Kids Corner and Chicago Marketwalk.
Another 24,000 square feet of food, beverage and retail space will open in Concourses A and B in 2004.
"This grand opening culminates over three years of intensive planning and coordination between the City and our new concessions operators," said Aviation Commissioner Thomas R. Walker. "We have been able to meet the challenges of expanding the airport facility to accommodate the needs of our travelers on schedule and within budget while serving more than 15 million passengers last year."
Once completed, the full program is projected to generate annual sales of almost $39 million. Despite ongoing construction of the new terminal, early sales performance indicates that the new concessions program will exceed projections. Contributing to this strong performance is the investment by concession operators of nearly $13 million.
The City's commitment to local businesses extends throughout the entire Midway Terminal Development Program. Sixty percent of the concessions are owned by minorities and women, far exceeding the City's M/WBE goal of 30 percent.
The airport is committed to designing and managing a world class concessions environment that provides value pricing, customer service, high quality merchandise, and top-rate facilities with a special emphasis on Chicago's local commitment to the Midway community.
The $793 million Midway Airport Terminal Development Program is building a new state-of-the-art facility that will double the amount of terminal space at Midway. The project will create 50,000 new jobs and contribute $3.6 billion in economic benefits to Chicago and the region.
For more information on the new concessions program visit the Department of Aviation's web site at www.chicagoairports.com.
