Tampa International Airport prepares to welcome 65 new shops, restaurants, convenience kiosks and bars

Visit the Tampa International Airport Concessions Redevelopment Page for maps, renderings, and details on the new concessionaires.

The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board approved and awarded 11 concessions contracts on Thursday, welcoming an exciting new mix of concepts, brands, flavors, designs and business owners to Tampa International Airport.

The contract with the airport’s existing sole concessionaire, which dates back to the opening of the terminal in 1971, expires this summer. The new program made contracts available to multiple concessions operators, creating a greater variety of concepts and fostering more competition among the airport’s shops and restaurants.

The six food and beverage contracts were awarded to: Host International; SSP America; TPA Hospitality Partners; and HBF Tampa Partners. The five retail and duty-free contracts were awarded to: Paradies-TPA; NewsLink of Tampa; Stellar Partners; HG Tampa; and WDGF North America. The packages will make up a total of 65 spaces throughout the airport.

A top priority for the Concessions Redevelopment Program, estimated to be worth about $1.3 billion in gross sales over the next 10 years, was to bring local flavor and a sense of place to the airport. More than 40 percent of the food and beverage part of the program will be dedicated to local concepts and brands. Airside C, Tampa International Airport’s busiest airside, will consist almost entirely of local retail, food and beverage concepts. Among some of the local concepts throughout the Airport are:

• The Tampa Life/Dali store in the Main Terminal featuring merchandise and gifts from local museums, with rotating displays to reflect seasonal events
• Airside C’s RumFish Grill, which will partner with the Florida Aquarium to maintain a large aquarium filled with indigenous species and has secured a commitment from the Animal Planet TV series Tanked to broadcast its installation
• Airport locations for such popular local business as Ducky’s; Burger 21; Ulele; Louis Pappas; Bavaro’s Pizza; the Columbia Restaurant; Four Green Fields; Bella’s; New York, New York Pizza; Cigar City Brewing
• Grab and go foods from such local suppliers as Alessi Bakery, Sono Café and Buddy Brew Coffee at news and convenience shops

The new program will also be introducing some new and innovative concepts at TPA, including:

• The first Hard Rock Café in a North American airport
• The Home Shopping Network’s Travelsmith store, which will be used to broadcast product launches
• The Starbucks Evening cafe, which plans to sell beer, wine, flatbreads and salads – the first of such a concept in the Tampa Bay market
• Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free menus in nearly all restaurants
• Touch-screen tablets for quick, convenient ordering and check-out at restaurants along with USB ports and power outlets for patrons

Another priority for the program was to build strong Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) partnerships, creating more opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses at Tampa International Airport. The airport’s ACDBE participation will be increasing from three companies to 15. The annual gross sales for ACDBE businesses will be increasing from $12 million to $50 million. Most of that money will stay in the region, as 12 of the 15 ACDBE partners are from the Orlando/Tampa/Sarasota area.

“I’m extremely proud of the Tampa International Airport staff and Aviation Authority board members who worked so hard to bring this incredible program to life,” Tampa International Airport CEO Joe Lopano said. “I have no doubt that the final results will be amazing and that all who visit Tampa International Airport from around the world will agree.”