Travelers through Jacksonville International Airport could soon see the new Chili’s restaurant as the city issued a permit March 4 for Auld & White Constructors LLC to build-out the restaurant’s new space at a cost of almost $1.3 million.
The Jacksonville Aviation Authority anticipates it will open in the third quarter, which is July-September.
Jacksonville-based Auld & White will renovate the 4,385-square-foot space for tenant HMSHost International of Bethesda, Maryland, at a cost of $1,291,413.
The site is in the post-security area for ticketed passengers at the North Jacksonville airport at 2400 Yankee Clipper Drive.
Chili’s is expanding from its original size at the entrance to Concourse A. It closed that location for the airport’s security checkpoint expansion.
It is being rebuilt in the central area of the concourses, nearest the entrance to Concourse A.
“Chili’s has been the highest-grossing concession in our airport. Right before it closed due to the security checkpoint project, it had just reached $5 million in sales. So with a 50% expansion of this unit, we expect it to expand significantly,” JAA Properties Manager Jeff Taylor told the authority board July 27.
There will be up to 50% more bar seating. There also will be seating along the chair rails.
Taylor told the board the focus on concessions development the past several years has been driven by two goals.
“One of those is to rebalance the existing program that we’ve had, which has been heavy on the retail, and a high demand for food and beverage, so we’ve been wanting to bring more restaurants to support the growing demand for food and beverage services,” Taylor said.
“And secondly, we’ve been focused on bringing in more local flavors for our passengers to experience. We want our airports to be reflective of the sense of place in Jacksonville,” he said.
The airport’s 20 gates comprise 10 on Concourse A and 10 on Concourse C.
The security checkpoint expansion and the movement of concessions are in preparation for the construction of the six-gate Concourse B to be completed in 2026.
The authority has added or expanded Firehouse Subs, Southern Grounds & Co., Angie’s Subs and a larger Vino Volo.
Paradies Lagardère operates Vino Volo. HMSHost operates the rest of the dining areas with Lee Wesley Group.