Dozens of new local food, drink options coming to Denver International Airport

Travelers through Denver International Airport will soon have dozens more opportunities to get a taste of the local dining scene.

On Wednesday, the airport announced more than two dozen Colorado-based businesses that will be featured throughout its concourses, both in newly constructed dining areas and “refreshes” of current food stalls. The selection includes a number of women- and minority-owned businesses.

According to DIA, 56 food-related construction projects will be started at the airport in 2022. This is the first time since its opening in 1995 that DIA has undergone a concession project of this magnitude, the statement said.

Local concessions expected to open by the end of this year include coffee purveyors Novo Coffee, Kabod Coffee and Dazbog Coffee. The latter will open three locations in Concourses A, B and C. Local eateries Rosenberg’s Bagels, Mercantile Dining & Provision and Superfruit Republic are also slated to open in 2022.

The spate of additions doesn’t come without controversy. This month, Denver’s city auditor reported that the airport uses an unfair process for selecting its restaurant, bar and retail concessions.

The report showed that DIA allows some concessionaires to bypass a competitive bidding process. It also pays an outside firm $500,000 a year to run an incentive program for attracting new businesses and has never evaluated if that program is truly beneficial.

DIA responded to the auditor’s report, saying that, “Denver International Airport (DEN) has a high-performing, diverse concessions program, and we are committed to providing equitable opportunities for all potential concessionaires while providing the tools and incentives for our current concessionaires to thrive.”

Earlier this month, a handful of the new airport concessions were announced from Westminster-based concessionaire Mission Yogurt. City documents showed that the concessionaire was set to lease approximately 21,000 square feet throughout the airport’s concourses.

While the costs to operate vary, in one concourse area covering around 3,800 square feet, Mission Yogurt would pay at least $1.4 million a year in rent (about $360 a square foot) or 15 percent of gross business sales, whichever is higher. The airport’s concessionaires include Mission Yogurt, as well as Tastes Den JV and JAF Concessions, among others.

Here are all of the new Denver International Airport concessions set to open over the next two years.

Bars, restaurants and retail slated to open at Denver International Airport

Concourse A:
Dazbog Coffee
Einstein Bro’s Bagels
Market 5280
Mercantile Dining & Provision
Novo Coffee
Plaza Premium Lounge
WH Smith