Hudson Group’s go-go Summer 2014 travel season was made all the more stirring by a series of grand opening events held in a variety of locations over the past few weeks.
The speech-making and ribbon-cutting was set against the background of a sizzling construction schedule that involves over 100 spaces – newsstands, bookstores, cafes, specialty retail stores and duty free shops – spread across some 27 airports and transit terminals.
Brad Lenz, Hudson’s Senior Vice President of Design, Facilities & Store Development, says it’s more than enough to keep him, five regional directors and an office administration team hopping.
Notes Lenz: “We work with a diverse group of talented store design and construction professionals to create superior retail environments that attract, delight and inspire our customers. Our scope commands multi-million dollar budgets that are carefully monitored to assure maximum value for our partners.”
Following are some of the highlights of the grand opening season:
The Tattered Cover, the iconic line of Colorado bookstores, was celebrated by a large group of press and dignitaries attending the August 12 Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting at the new Terminal A store. There are now four of the bookstores located throughout the airport, all operated by Hudson Group.
The day featured speakers, booksignings, giveaways and other activities, including an appearance by Hudsy the News Hound. Mayor Michael B. Hancock’s “One Book, One Denver” initiative was supported by the current author, Ingrid Law and a previous OBOD veteran, bestselling author Peter Heller. The One Book program encourages everyone in the city to focus on a single book, with book clubs and discussion groups aimed at increasing reading at all levels. Other local authors were on hand to sign their books throughout the day, thanks to Hudson’s marketing team.
The Tattered Cover Book Store began in 1971 as a small store with only 950 square feet of retail space and two employees in the Cherry Creek North district of Denver. It has grown for 40 years into one of the premier bookstores in America with three expansive locations in the greater Denver Metro area. www.tatteredcover.com
The famed bookstore is part of an exclusive license agreement with existing airport bookseller, Hudson Booksellers, a brand of premier travel retailer Hudson Group. In addition to the construction of four Tattered Cover locations at the airport, the contract also covers five Hudson News locations.
The tattered cover and hudson news stores are now located in all three concourses as well as the jeppesen terminal.
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Hosts Open House
The Birmingham Airport Authority held a community open house to celebrate the completion of Phase II of its Terminal Modernization Project at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International (BHM) on Monday, August 11.
The much anticipated completion of this project provides the region with modern facilities, great food and retail choices, and ease for both business and leisure travelers alike. Recent additions to BHM’s retail concession program include Hudson Group’s Ebony Newsstand and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame (ASHOF) store. Visitors to the Ebony Newsstand will come across distinct Alabama themed retail products and for the sports fan, the ASHOF store is equipped with merchandise from college teams across the state.
Hudson is working with ASHOF to schedule appearances by retired sports icons (such as Joe Namath and Bart Starr) appearances at the airport.
Hudson’s Flatwood Grill Opens at Greenville-Spartanburg Airport
The Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport has named its newest restaurant in honor of a historic farming community in Spartanburg County.
Officials and business leaders gathered at the eatery on August 13 for the dedication of the airport’s new Flatwood Grill.
The grill is the focal point of a new dining and retail area that recently opened next to baggage claim as part of the airport’s $125 million main terminal improvement plan WINGSPAN. It is bordered by a Hudson travel essentials store and Dunkin’ Donuts, both also operated by Hudson Group.
“This is an important part of the project for us,” said Dave Edwards, president and CEO of GSP. “We knew we had to do something special. We never want that community to be forgotten.”
Edwards said GSP officials chose the name to honor the community that once thrived across several hundred acres of lush farmland in western Spartanburg County spanning from Highway 14 to Highway 101. Much of the land was flat, which made it perfect for growing cotton, then peaches, grains, corn and cattle. For that same reason, it was a prime location to build an airport.
The grill will serve an array of American dishes. Its walls are accented with old photos of downtown Spartanburg, Downtown Memorial Airport, aerial views of GSP during its early days, a picture of a Flatwood peach field and other airport shots.
Here is a sampling of other projects now under construction by Brad Lenz and his team:
- BWI – Hudson
- DAL – Hudson, Jason’s Deli and Desigual
- DFW – Hudson, Daily Java
- LGA – Hudson, Tumi, Lacoste and Eddie Bauer
- JFK T8 – Hudson, Dunkin’ Donuts and Victoria’s Secret
- MIA – Michael Kors and Sweet Indulgences
- LIRR Penn Station – Dunkin’ Donuts
- Port Authority Bus Terminal – Hudson and Dunkin’ Donuts
- JFK T8 – Hudson and Euro Café
- ROA – Hudson