DFW International Airport Provides Global Venue For Shopping Sprees And Dining Ease

DFW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, TX (July 19, 2005) - Beginning Saturday, it will come as no surprise if travelers begin looking forward to layovers when passing through DFW International Airport’s new International Terminal D. A vast array of exquisite restaurants and unique shops await passengers inside the Airport’s new International Terminal D, promising to attract and please even the most discerning tastes. The terminal plans ‘premeire flight’ activities Saturday, July 23.

International Terminal D features a variety of retail and dining outlets as diverse as the international travelers they will service. Ranging from casual dining to specialty outlets, from international cuisine and gifts to Texas–proud food and fun, Terminal D will undoubtedly offer something for everyone. 

For example, Blue Mesa Grill, a Dallas-Fort Worth area favorite, offers a Southwest flavor while the new Tigin Irish Pub promises an authentic Irish pub experience with a variety of foods and beverages. Reata Grill, a long-time Fort Worth landmark, adds an upscale taste of Texas to the impressive lineup of Terminal D dining choices. The range of shopping options is just as diverse with retailers such as Bachendorf’s Fine Jewelry, Landau & Bocelli Fashion Accessories, Dallas-based Fossil and local favorite MallaSadi Men’s Boutique.

“It’s an impressive terminal and it looks and feels exactly how an international terminal should,” said Gilbert Aranza, CEO of Star Concessions, which is opening three restaurants new to DFW – Chammps, Cool River Café and Cantina Laredo. “And to see the quality and quantity of the vendors reflects what an impressive job the Airport staff has done.”

International Terminal D offers two 40,000-square-foot concessions villages along with two children’s play areas and two performance spaces. Of the 60 retail spaces available, 49 will be ready for business opening day with the remainder to be filled by late November. In addition to hosting many long-time vendors, International Terminal D will also be home to seven new concessionaires.

As an added benefit, the general public can also access some of the concessions spots in the new International Terminal D. Patrons are afforded the opportunity of shopping or dining on various levels, notably the Grand Met restaurant at the Grand Hyatt. Additionally, the public has access to Stellar News on the Concourse level and Au Bon Pain and Southwest News located on the Arrivals level, serving ‘meeters and greeters’ as they await family, friends or business associates.

Fifteen of International Terminal D’s concessionaires are longtime success stories at DFW. John Brancato, Managing Partner of Puente Concessions and of V. Puente Currency Services along with Gina Puente-Brancato, President of Gina Puente Ventures Inc. and Puente Concessions Inc. have partnered with DFW as concessionaires for more than 16 years.

“We have very much enjoyed the relationship we’ve had with DFW and we know the best years are still ahead,” Brancato said. “We feel this will be the best terminal in the country, if not the world, and it will be the first place that a lot of travelers will ever see of the United States; we’re proud to be a part of that.” 

Together, the couple will open The Marché, a locale containing four restaurants: Fuddruckers, Einstein Bros. Bagels, 360 Degree Gourmet Burrito and Railhead Smokehouse BBQ, one of Fort Worth’s best-known barbecue hotspots. The Brancatos will separately open two newsstands, Main Street News and Wall Street News along with the Travelex currency exchange. They are also opening another location of their highly-acclaimed La Bodega Winery, the nation’s only airport winery.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to serve the international public,” PuenteBrancato said. “We are proud to be a concessionaire in this particular terminal not only because of the magnitude of the building, but also because of the quality.” 

“Everyone is excited and ready to open,” said Ray Quintanilla, President of RQ Concessions Limited, which owns Fossil and the new Jazzman’s Café. “With so much effort and energy that has been put forth, we know it’s going to be a huge success.”

The feeling of success is mutual as airport officials recently estimated International Terminal D concessionaires would bring in more than $86 million in gross sales during the first year of operation. As with every DFW vendor, all products and services are required to be sold no higher than 10% above “street” pricing.

Although it’s an international terminal with a world-class atmosphere, many of the vendors are not far from home; approximately 77-percent of International Terminal D concessionaires are locally-owned vendors. In addition, 93-percent of the vendors have greater than a third of minority and/or women participation. 

About International Terminal D Concessions Dining Options:

360 Degree Gourmet Burrito, Au Bon Pain, Bennigan’s, Blue Bamboo Xpress, Blue Mesa Grill, Camille’s Sidewalk Café, Cantina Laredo, Cool River Café, Champps Restaurant & Bar, Cousin’s Bar-B-Q, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Fuddrucker’s, Jazzman’s Café, La Duni Latin Café, Popeye’s, McDonald’s, Railhead Smokehouse BBQ, Reata Grill, T.G.I. Friday’s, Tigin Irish Pub

Specialty Food Options: Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, The Grove Old Fashioned Soda Fountain, Natalie’s Candy Bar

Retail Options: Bachendorf’s Fine Jewelry, Brooks Brothers, Brookstone, Buckaroo Duty Free, Dallas Cowboys Pro Shop, DFW TravelMart, Fossil, InMotion Pictures, La Bodega Winery, Landau, MallaSadi Men’s Boutique, PGA Tour Shop, Simply Books / Starbucks Coffee, Southwest News, Stellar News, Texas Marketplace, Wall Street News

Services: Travelex Currency Exchange