Food and beverage and retail revolution to bring the heart & soul of Nashville to BNA.
NASHVILLE – Fraport USA and Nashville International Airport (BNA) joined with community members to announce plans for the new concessions program at BNA and welcome anticipated operators – a roster that will celebrate the best of Nashville with popular concepts such as Biscuit Love, Prince’s Hot Chicken, ACME Feed and Seed, Tootsies, Slim and Husky’s, Parnassus and Draper James in the mix.
Fraport USA is leading the development and management of 133,000 square feet of concessions space at BNA starting this month through January 2029. For the airport’s 16 million annual passengers, the reimagined program will emphasize local flavor and flare.
“We have a vision to bring the heart and soul of the region to the concessions program at Nashville International Airport,” said Ben Zandi, president and CEO of Fraport USA. “The response has been outstanding. After months of planning, recruitment and outreach, including reviews of more than 430 RFP responses, today we celebrate the launch of what will be an iconic concessions program at BNA – one that emphasizes participation by local restaurateurs and retailers and includes unprecedented opportunities for small, minority, and woman-owned businesses. These local innovators and independent operators will transform the BNA environment and provide travelers with a truly authentic Nashville experience.”
Upon completion, the program will include more than 90 new locations of food and beverage, specialty retail, passenger services, news and gifts and amenities. Under Fraport’s operating model, most of these will be independently owned, allowing local businesses to manage their brands and bring improved customer service to the airport.
The program also brings “street pricing” to BNA – an assurance that customers will pay no more for goods at the airport’s concessions than they would at a comparable location.
“When we first started the process of revamping the BNA concessions program more than a year ago we knew we wanted to create a more authentic Nashville experience for our travelers,” said Doug Kreulen, Nashville International Airport president and CEO. “With that goal in mind, Fraport is committed to delivering a concessions program that features a diverse array of local operators who showcase the best of our city and region. From the moment our customers enter the terminal or step foot off the plane, they will experience the sights, sounds and flavors that make Music City so distinctive. We can’t wait to get started.”
Future developments include new food courts, more live performance space and amenities designed to enhance the passenger experience.
“On behalf of BNA’s Board of Commissioners, I congratulate the businesses who have shown an interest in participating in the unique and exciting concessions program at our airport,” said Dr. A. Dexter Samuels, BNA Board of Commissioners chair. “It is a diverse group of restaurants and retailers that reflect the quality and innovation that make our city successful and inclusive. I applaud Fraport for their proactive customer-centric approach in helping us reimagine our concession program and look forward to its resounding success at BNA.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
