From Wendy’s to wine bars, visitors to the Washington area’s airports find themselves with many more dining options to choose from as the year comes to a close.
Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport opened 15 new food and beverage locations during the year, according to Mark Knight, president of BAA USA, which runs concessions for the airport.
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“The real highlight in my book was the opening of the Silver Diner in November,”Knight said, adding the diner is one of the largest restaurants in any airport in the country.
BWI also saw the addition of the Green Turtle, a local sports bar chain, as well as fast-food options like Arby’s, which Knight said has been surprisingly popular.
Redevelopment of concessions at Ronald Reagan Washington National and Washington Dulles International airports has been happening over two years, according to Steve Baker, vice president of administration for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.
At National, which received 17 additions in 2007, the emphasis largely has been on providing more options for carry-on food, Baker said, such as Potbelly Sandwich Works, which BWI also has now.
“At Dulles, the big home run for us was a sit-down facility prior to security,” Baker said; a version of the Arlington’s Harry’s Tap Room was the restaurant, which opened last year.
Local hamburger chain Five Guys has seen an onslaught of customers at Dulles this year, he said.
Wine bars also have been a new addition to both Dulles and BWI.
“The trend is for higher quality, more choices; they want the experiences they have on the street,” Knight said.
And the investment has paid off. Knight said the company expects sales to nearly double from last year, up to $100 million, by the end of 2007.
Baker said revenues are expected to climb 20 percent at Dulles and 14 percent at National; both outposts were in the range of $36-38 million in 2006.
Looking ahead to 2008, BWI will open a fast-food court geared toward airport employees on the operation deck, as well as Panda Express and a Varsity Grille sports bar.
Baker said Reagan and Dulles will concentrate on improving customer service, and look at new retail options, such as a dog service or a Wegmans or Whole Foods-sponsored carry-out grocery.
