Minsky’s, Chiefs, Zarda, Boulevard and LC’s. Here’s a look at other KCI concession bids

The Kansas City Council this week will consider a lucrative contract with Vantage Airport Group, which aims to run concessions at the city’s new $1.5 billion airport terminal.

If approved, the Canadian firm will win the right to oversee all food, beverage and retail operations at Kansas City International Airport for the next 15 years. The concessions contract represents an unparalleled opportunity for local businesses to serve a captive travel audience at the city’s front door.

Kansas City received five proposals from major firms, all of which included a collection of local bars, restaurants and shops — some of them appearing on multiple bids. A private city selection committee unanimously recommended Vantage as the winner.

In its presentations to the city council, Vantage has named many of the vendors it expects to bring to KCI. Those include Stockyards Brewing Co., Urban Cafe, Tay’s Burger Shack, Bo Lings Chinese Restaurant, Christopher Elbow Chocolates and Mother Earth Coffee.

But few details about the other four proposals have been made public, as city staff have sought to keep the bids private until after a final contract is inked. With questions about transparency swirling, all five bidders last week waived any privacy concerns, pushing the city to make the voluminous bids public on Friday.

The proposals are just that. Any of the brands included in the various bids would still require contractual agreements with concessionaires. These lists are not necessarily exhaustive, but they do show the variety of bids received and which local companies were vying to get into the airport.

Here’s a look at the four proposals that were not recommended for KCI:

Delaware North

Based in Buffalo, New York, Delaware North planned to feature LC’s Bar-B-Q within its American Royal Smokehouse concept in Concourse B. The smokehouse would rotate in top local pitmasters and barbecue brands.

The company also planned several creative spaces in the terminal. Those would feature various exhibits on the arts, food and sports, including baseball’s Negro Leagues.

Delaware North’s proposal also included:

• Kansas City, Kansas Taco Trail

• Tavolino by Lidia Bastianich

• Messenger Coffee Co.

• The Roasterie Café

• Jazz Bar and KC on Stage

• The Market by Midwest Living

• Chicken ‘n Biscuits by Midwest Living

• Boulevard Brewing Co.

• Hawaiian Bros Island Grill

• A food hall featuring Pigwich, Mr. D’s Donuts and a bar

• Fountain City Tavern

• Brewed & Brews

• The Tasting Room

• The Market on Troost

• The Kitchen

• Harvest & Grounds

• Made in KC Marketplace

• The Sports Connection

• Middle West Flavor

• Hallmark

• Skullcandy

• MRKT

• 18th and Vine Leisure Loft

Kansas City Restaurant Group

This proposal was a joint venture that included the Hudson Group and HMSHost, which runs food and beverage operations at more than 120 airports around the globe, including in Kansas City.

The proposal included a partnership with the Chief’s quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ 15 and Mahomies Foundation and plans for a FIFA World Cup store. The buildout would have been inspired by local landmarks like the 18th & Vine district, the Country Club Plaza, the Crossroads Arts District and Electric Park.

Here’s who else was include in the Kansas City Restaurant Group proposal:

• Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que
• Dunkin’
• Starbucks
• The Roasterie
• Bandit Coffee
• Taco Republic

• Chick-fil-A

• P.F. Changs

• UnWind Spa

• Ruby Jeans

• BRGR

• J. Rieger & Co

• Andre’s Confiserie Suisse

• Ravenous

• Rye

• Sporting KC

• Boulevard Brewing Co.

• Ibis Bakery

• Westport Landing Bar

• Sura Eats

• Just Walk Out by Amazon

• Aussie Grill by Outback

Mera KC

Mera KC is a joint proposal that includes Mexico’s Mera Corp. and three California companies: Metropolitan Culinary Services, Blue Stone Management and Skyview Concessions.

The proposal called for commissary kitchens that would allow travelers to order “anything anywhere” in the terminal. Mera planned to feature the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, American Jazz Museum and Plaza in the Park, which would feature a stage surrounded by open seating

Here’s who else was included in the Mera KC proposal:

• Hallmark
• Hallmark Channel Store
• Crayola
• Best of KC By Tony Gonzalez
• Bo Lings Chinese Restaurant
• Boulevard Brewing Co.
• Cascone’s Italian
• Charlie Hustle
• Cultivare Greens & Grains
• Jones Bar-B-Q
• Lufti’s Fried Fish
• M&M Bakery
• Majestic Steakhouse
• Guy Fieri’s Kitchen & Bar
• KC Comfort Lounge
• Teocali
• Easyriders Bar
• Christopher Elbow Chocolates
• Amazon
• Peachtree
  
  
• Revocup Coffee Roasters
• The Roasterie Factory Kitchen
• Westport Flea Market
• Winstead’s Bugers
• Zarda Bar-B-Q
• Made in KC Business Incubator
• Jay Jewelry
• Welcome to KC Bar
• Street Corner Urban Market

PLTR-SSP

This was a joint proposal that included Virginia’s SSP America, Atlanta’s Paradies Lagardere and Kansas City comedian and concessionaire Elliott Threat. Paradies Lagardère currently has a contract to run news and gift shops at KCI.

The proposal included a partnership with Visit KC that would create interactive exhibits, a flex space that would feature the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the Black Archives of Mid-America and the Kansas City Chiefs Kingdom, a special area in the terminal to pay homage to “sports heroes.”

Here’s who else was on the PLTR-SSP proposal:

• The Chiefs Bar & Grill
• Urban Bird by J. Clark
• Goodcents Deli Fresh Subs
• Jones Bar-B-Q
• Jasper’s Italian Deli & Pizza Bar
• Boulevard Brewing Co.
• Smaxx Burgers, Chicken and Fries
• Hawthorne Exchange
• Minsky’s Pizza
• IMKC Clothing Company
• The Well
• Messenger Coffee
• Cherry Sports
• Tom’s Town Distilling Co.
• LC’s Hamburgers
• Mi Casa Cantina
• Made in KC Marketplace
• The Corner Candle Shop
• Wow Bao
• Auntie Anne’s pretzels
• Vino Volo wine bar
• Starbucks
• Dunkin’
• South of Summit Taqueria
• Camden Food Co.

This story was originally published October 4, 2021 at 5:00 AM.

Kevin Hardy

The Kansas City Star

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Kevin Hardy covers business for The Kansas City Star. He previously covered business and politics at The Des Moines Register. He also has worked at newspapers in Kansas and Tennessee. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas

Cortlynn Stark

The Kansas City Star

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Cortlynn Stark writes about finance and the economy for The Sum. She is a Certified Financial Education Instructor℠ with the National Financial Educators Council. She previously covered City Hall for The Kansas City Star and joined The Star in January 2020 as a breaking news reporter. Cortlynn studied journalism and Spanish at Missouri State University.