Wednesday, May 13, 2015 at 5:00 AM - For Immediate Release
Terminal A Food Court Remodel Begins; New Food, Furnishings & Ambiance Coming This Summer
SACRAMENTO - The Terminal A food court is getting an extreme makeover. Within a week, barricades will be installed on the 2nd level to make room for three local restaurants. Simultaneously, the post-security interior is getting its biggest remodel since the terminal opened in 1998. The end result will be a modern, open dining and lounging area where passengers can relax and enjoy specialty restaurants found only in Sacramento.
Local favorites Paesanos and the Squeeze Inn will open in the summer. The Iron Horse Tavern will open in the fall. The Iron Horse Tavern is an airport-scaled version of the newly opened midtown Sacramento restaurant operated by the Wong family, owners of Cafeteria 15L.
Master concessionaire SSP America is remodeling 13,000 square feet of space with new storefronts, equipment, and finishes. SSP America is a division of the SSP Group, a leading operator of food and beverage brands in travel locations worldwide.
Sacramento International Airport is remodeling the 17,000-square-foot seating area to give it a marketplace feel, with new areas for eating and relaxing.
The Iron Horse Tavern will anchor the center aisle, or main street, of the new interior. The bar will extend into the middle of the food court.
Paesanos and the Squeeze Inn will be located to the right, next to clusters of new tables and chairs for convenient dining. Counter-height tables and chairs will come equipped with electrical outlets and USB ports. Two areas separated by trellises will be furnished with the kind of comfy tables and chairs one would find in a bookstore … perfect for passengers to catch a breath before catching their flights.
The new interior will also have space available for kiosks selling seasonal gifts or other fun, retail items.
“We’re thrilled to be able to offer our passengers the same type of experience in Terminal A that they enjoy in Terminal B, complete with one-of-a-kind restaurants that give passengers a sense of place,” said John Wheat, Director of Airports for the Sacramento County Dept. of Airports.
Michael Svagdis, President and CEO of SSP America commented, “The SSP America team is excited to be building on our existing presence at Sacramento International Airport with three local superstars that represent the incredible culinary scene of Sacramento. Everything we do at SSP America begins and ends with amazing food and we’re proud to partner with Sacramento’s finest restaurant leaders and the amazing team at SMF.”
Construction will not impact retail shops or other restaurants, with the exception of the Jet Box Market, which is closing.
Freshii, an SSP America restaurant offering lighter fare, and a casual-dining bar and restaurant will also open in the fall. An expansion of the HMS Host Starbucks on the first floor of Terminal A is expected to be completed at the same time.
Terminal A is the departure point for American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, United Airlines and US Airways. About 35 percent of passengers at Sacramento International Airport fly out of Terminal A.
About SSP America
SSP America, a division of SSP Group, has positioned itself as the food travel expert, growing to become a leading operator of food and beverage concessions in the U.S. and Canada operating over 200 outlets in 24 airports. SSP America’s strong growth has been driven by a strategic vision to dramatically improve the food travel experience for passengers through innovation and investment in brands, extensive training and development of staff, building lasting partnerships with airports, and together, putting the needs of the passenger first. The 3,600-person strong SSP America team is led by a seasoned group of restaurant professionals who operate an extensive portfolio of local, proprietary and national brands created by culinary celebrities and leading industry experts. www.foodtravelexperts.com/america
About Sacramento International Airport
Sacramento International Airport offers more than 130 daily nonstop flights to 29 cities and convenient one-stop connections to Rome, Paris, London, Frankfurt, Madrid, Beijing, Tokyo, Acapulco, and other international destinations. The regional economic impact of the Sacramento County Airport System is more than $4 billion annually.
About the Restaurants
Iron Horse Tavern
From celebrated midtown restauranteurs Mason, Curtis and Alan Wong comes Iron Horse Tavern, set to make its debut at Sacramento International Airport after the namesake restaurant opens at the intersection of 15th and R streets. Named after the locomotives that once rumbled down R Street, Iron Horse is a superbly designed, modernized tavern concept with a creative American menu crafted by Chef Christian Palmos of Cafeteria 15L.
Paesanos
Paesano owners David Virga and Mark Scribner have built a collection of restaurants recognized for their relaxing atmosphere and enticing menu. As a home-town favorite, Paesano’s will proudly welcome passengers who drop in for a gourmet hand-tossed pizza, baked Italian sandwiches, and trademark salads.
Squeeze Inn
Born from a love of fine burgers, Travis Hausauer’s Squeeze Inn is sure to draw a daily crowd of passengers who appreciate the allure of an all-American diner menu boasting one of the best burgers in the U.S. The burger features the head-turning cheese skirt which is perfectly paired with Squeeze’s legendary crispy fries. Squeeze Inn is sure to build a loyal SMF following as the restaurant becomes a “must visit” spot for travelers.
Architectural renderings of the remodel project are available here.
The Sacramento County Department of Airports is responsible for planning, developing, operating and maintaining the county’s four airports: Sacramento International Airport, Executive Airport, Mather Airport and Franklin Field. Sacramento International Airport offers more than 155 daily nonstop flights on 12 domestic and international carriers to 36 destinations. The regional economic impact of the Sacramento County Department of Airports is more than $4 billion annually. For more information, visit sacramento.aero.