Sunport finishing the tastiest part of the Dream of Flight renovation
Sep. 18—From local cuisine to popular national brands, the Albuquerque International Sunport is giving its food and beverage options a facelift.
The food hall and other retail areas are being remolded and reoccupied. Dream of Flight is a renovation project that started in November 2022 and will cost nearly $90 million.
The renovation consists of three components: moving Transportation Security Administration, updating plumbing and other background infrastructure, and developing a new food court and retail area . The city unveiled most of the new food and beverage options on Tuesday in a building near the Sunport.
"What we're doing at the airport is generational investment. It is meant to last us 40 years," said Mayor Tim Keller.
The restaurants and stores are expected to open throughout the year.
Seven concessions will be in the newly renovated food hall: Flavor of NM, Cheese and Coffee, Rush of Prana, Panda Express, Dunkin', Teller Vodka and Indian Pueblo Kitchen.
The other seven will be spread out through the T-connector: Taos Peaks, Buffalo Wild Wings GO, Sadie's, Steel Bender, New Mexico Piñon Coffee, Frank's Famous Chicken and Waffles and Laguna Burger.
The Sunport has yet to announce the final restaurant.
Keller said renovations are on schedule to be done by the end of next year.
The city of Albuquerque put out a proposal in late 2022 for contractors to bring new restaurants to the Sunport. Airport industry executive Gary Gilliard said the proposal asked for an "authentic New Mexico dining experience."
Fresquez Concessions and Tailwind Hospitality won the bids.
Fresquez is a family-owned, New Mexico-based company. It's partnered with the city for 28 years.
Lenny Fresquez opened his first restaurant in 1976. The company has since have expanded to Colorado and Texas.
"You're not a New Mexican until you've eaten at Mac's (Steak in the Rough)," Fresquez joked about the New Mexico restaurant he owns.
His daughter, LeeAnna Fresquez, was brought to tears when talking about how her family had served New Mexico for 45 years and the struggles both restaurants and airlines faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We're here today because we've come together as a village," LeeAnna said.
Tailwind is a national hospitality chain that operates in 59 airports in 32 states specializing in bringing local restaurants to airports, like Indian Pueblo Kitchen, Laguna Burger and Frank's Famous Chicken and Waffles in the Dream of Flight project.
"When you fly through an airport, it's your last impression, and when you land, it's the first thing you see," said Jeffery Switzer, the CEO and president of Tailwind.
Only one of the 15 concessions will be available without going through TSA. Black Mesa is a coffee shop already open, but the Sunport will be moving the shop.
The other 14 concessions will be for flyers only. Sunport Customer Experience Manager Jonathon Small said there used to be a restaurant on the other side of TSA but it didn't make enough money.
