USA. Fast-expanding Tailwind Hospitality has opened the 823sq ft airside Nueces Brewing Bar, launching a six-concession programme at Corpus Christi International Airport.
To follow will be three further food & beverage openings in Island Joes Coffee, Gulf Coast Bar & Grill and Salty Oak, plus an Amazon Just Walk Out Store and a VIP lounge.
Tailwind won the contract for the transformative concession programme at the airport, which serves the city of Corpus Christi and the Texas Coastal Bend, in September 2023.
Nueces Brewing Bar, located post-security within the concourse between gates 1 and 3, is a partnership with Corpus Christi’s Nueces Brewing Company, known for its local craft brews and slow-smoked Texas barbecue.
The full-service bar, also serving food, is connected to a newly opened outdoor patio and observation deck, the first passenger-accessible outdoor space to be constructed in the airport’s 64-year history.
The bar features an 18-seat white quartz horseshoe-shaped bar set under a suspended wood trellis, decorative ceramic backsplash and under-bar accent tile.
Other elements include wide-plank luxury vinyl tile flooring, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, five high-definition 55-inch TVs, built-in charging ports, under-bar bag hooks and an adjacent seating area accommodating up to 23 guests.
Beverage offerings include more than ten flagship and rotating speciality beers on-tap, a cocktail menu and a selection of red, white, rosé and sparkling wines.
The 1,200sq ft elevated outdoor patio and observation deck is surrounded by 9.5ft glass walls reinforced with stainless steel. The deck also features a service animal relief area, porcelain stone surface flooring, benches and tables made of eco-friendly composite timber.
There are also grey planters filled with drought-resistant native flax lilies, bi-colour irises, liriopes and Mediterranean fan palms.
The space serves as both an extension of the bar, offering travellers a place to drink al fresco, and as an observation deck where passengers can enjoy fresh air, watch aircraft landing and departing, and take in 180-degree views of the airfield and beyond.
Corpus Christi International Airport Director of Aviation Kevin Smith said: “The opening of the Nueces Brewing Bar and our stunning new outdoor observation deck marks the first of many passenger-focused spaces to be unveiled at CCIA over the next years.
“Our goal is to create an exceptional travel experience by improving amenities and operations, which will bolster our local economy and fuel economic growth. We are excited to showcase this beautiful new bar and outdoor space to the 700,000+ passengers who travel through CCIA each year.”
The remaining five concessions in Tailwand’s programme will open over the next 12 months.
Among the still-to-come F&B venues are Island Joes Coffee, a locally owned espresso and coffee shop known for its signature three-bean blends and baked goods; Gulf Coast Capital Bar & Grill, a full-service restaurant offering breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails; and Salty Oak BBQ, a Corpus Christi favourite and specialist in authentic Texas barbecue.
Completing the concessions programme will be an Amazon Just Walk Out gift shop and travel convenience concept; and a paid-access VIP airport lounge offering passengers a quiet, connected space with complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks. 
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