TAMPA, Fla. — Coming to Tampa International Airport by the end of the decade is Airside D, the airport’s newest terminal that is currently under construction.
Laurie Noyes, Airport Concessions and Commercial Parking Vice President, says it’s going to be double the size of the terminal next door.
“We have 66 shops and restaurants. We are opening (Airside D), but we’re also looking at the expiration of all of our contracts and what we’re going to be doing in the future,” Noyes said.
What she sees in the future terminal is local businesses taking over the storefronts.
For franchise owner Ian Lieberman, he and his siblings run several locations of Dave’s Hot Chicken across the west coast of Florida. Their goal, to open their newest location inside Airside D.
“We’ve seen the growth here. And it’s exciting to be a part of a community institution, like the airport,” Lieberman. “It’s really an honor to even be considered for a space there. And we think if we are selected for a space, that it will do nothing but great things for our brand and for our business.”
Even for a franchise, breaking into the Tampa market comes with its own set of challenges.
“The first site was really challenging to find. The second site was challenging, but a little easier, and now that we have a successful track record, landlords, we can tell landlords what we’re doing in sales,” said Lieberman.
Although he’s never owned a restaurant inside an airport, he’s excited to be considered for Airside D.
“You’re surrounded by national vendors and prime contractors from all over the country. But here, this feels a lot more local. And to me, that’s what the Tampa airport is about,” Lieberman mentioned.
Noyes added that the payoffs for these partnerships are not just in dollar signs.
“Generally they use local supply chain — they use local agriculture. And so we’re continuing to generate that economic activity within our region. Obviously, employees are locally based. And so it’s important to have that brand,” she said.