After confirming 15 concessions contracts last week, the Austin City Council on Thursday voted to approve additional contracts with HMSHost and XpresSpa. Like the 15 locations approved earlier, the newly approved contracts involve concessions to support the nine new gates coming to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) in an expansion to be completed in 2019.
The city council approved a 10-year food and beverage contract for HMSHost. In partnership with D.C. Garrett Group, HMSHost will operate nine locations in AUS’s new international terminal.
HMSHost will bring Austin City Kitchen to the new development. The food hall will feature an open kitchen that will allow patrons to see their food being made. Austin City Kitchen will be comprised of a number of restaurants with an emphasis on local favorites, including local Torchy’s Tacos, Noble Sandwich Co., Sushi-A-Go-Go by Komé, and a taproom by Austin Beerworks called The Beer Drop.
Travelers wishing to pick up a souvenir or local produce can shop at Hardies Fresh Foods market inside the Austin City Kitchen food hall. Austin City Kitchen also has a main stage that will feature live music from a rotating selection of local musicians.
Casual dining will also be available at a new location of the 24 Diner by ELM Restaurant Group. In addition, HMSHost will offer Parkside, a farm-to-table gastropub fare, and Jugo Juice, a juice, snacks, and smoothie concept. Both Parkshide and Jugo Juice are concepts driven by Austin’s Chef Shawn Cirkiel, founder of Parkside Projects. A Starbucks location will round out HMSHost’s food and beverage offerings.
“HMSHost is thrilled to bring travelers of Austin these popular dining offerings in partnership with D.C. Garrett Group and our local restaurant partners,” says Anthony Alessi, HMSHost’s vice president of business development. “Austin is a forward-thinking culinary city, and the new restaurants we’ll soon open will showcase the best mix of culinary offerings reflective of this unique place.”
Additionally in the Thursday meeting, the Austin City Council approved a new contract with XpresSpa to operate a new XpresSpa location at AUS.