USA. The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA), together with concession partners, has held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of dining and retail stores at Chicago O’Hare International Airport Terminal 3.
Joining the airport’s diverse array of commercial offerings are Half Moon Empanadas, ChiBoys and Hudson Nonstop, which have launched ahead of the busy summer travel period.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said: “These new concessions are more than just an opportunity to provide world-class dining and retail experiences for travellers in Terminal 3.
“Airport concessions create investments in Chicago communities by providing opportunities for diverse local businesses to be a part of our economic engines, and showcase our vibrant cultures and entrepreneurial spirit.”
CDA Commissioner Jamie L. Rhee added: “I’m proud to welcome Half Moon Empanadas, ChiBoys and Hudson Nonstop to Terminal 3 as we continue to invest in upgrades to enhance the overall passenger experience throughout O’Hare’s terminals.
“These new additions offer unique flavours, styles and conveniences to the travelling public and support diverse Chicago businesses.”
Half Moon Empanadas serves authentic Latin American cuisine and is known for its Argentinian empanadas made from scratch.
It is an ACDBE-certified, female-owned enterprise and is acknowledged as one of Inc’s 5,000 Fastest Growing Companies in the US.
Half Moon Empanada Founders Pilar and Juan Zavala said: “The Half Moon Empanadas locations are the ‘face’ of the brand and we take great pride in crafting a menu and environment that reflects our company values, shares our Hispanic culture and highlights the contributions of minority and women-owned businesses.”
ChiBoys is a new fashion concept at the airport, showcasing the beauty and diversity of Chicago’s history, architecture and culture through quality apparel and products.
As reported, it offers Chicago-themed items such as t-shirts, hoodies, outerwear and other apparel, as well as hats and accessories, inspired by owner DeShawn Murry’s knowledge, pride and love of the city.
Murry said: “To say ‘opening a store at O’Hare is an honour’ would be an understatement. From the fruition of ChiBoys, I dreamt of it being on a platform for the world to see, and with this opportunity travellers from all over the world finally get to see why Chicagoans are so prideful.
“Our history, architecture, culture and culinary scene are second to none. Our diverse neighbourhoods are what makes us a world-class city. We’re looking forward to being a new and exciting addition to ORD.”
Hudson Nonstop provides travellers a fast and contactless way to shop for travel essentials, food & beverage, and local souvenirs. Powered by Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology, it allows passengers to enter the store by inserting their credit card or tapping their mobile wallet at the entry gate, select their items, and walk out without any checkout lines.
Avolta Chief Operating Officer – Retail, North America Brian Quinn said: “We are proud to be a part of the continued evolution of Chicago O’Hare International Airport and to make travellers happier along their journey by providing innovative retail experiences like Hudson Nonstop.”
These openings are the latest in a series of concessions developments at Chicago’s airports. This January, the CDA celebrated the grand opening of popular local F&B brands Bar Siena and The Hampton Social in the newly expanded and modernised Terminal 5.
Future planned concessions in T5 include Butcher and the Burger, The Dearborn, Publican Coffee, Chick-fil-A, and Protein Bar & Kitchen.
Last November, the CDA celebrated the reopening of Midway International Airport’s revamped Central Market. The reopening marked the completion of the historic Midway Modernization Program, the most comprehensive investment in Midway’s facilities in more than two decades.
F&B concepts here include Connie’s Pizza, America’s Dog and Burger, White Sox Bar and Grill, M Burger, Beecher’s Handmade Cheese, Dunkin’ and Reilly’s Daughter. Retailers include Evolve by Hudson, Tumi and MAC/Jo Malone. ✈
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