More Bluegrass flavor to be added into airport

Jun. 21--Blue Grass Airport wants to have more of a Kentucky flair and, in particular, give travelers more of a taste of what makes Lexington distinctive.

Come late fall, the airport is expected to have several new food and beverage concessions and retail shops that will offer Kentucky-made or Kentucky-inspired products. They include a deSha's American Tavern, a three-portal store called Blue Grass MarketPlace -- one of the portals is to be the Keeneland Shop, which will provide merchandise geared to equine enthusiasts -- and Knob Creek Tavern, with a drink menu that will include mint juleps.

The airport board voted yesterday to accept proposals from Creative Host Services Inc. and The Paradies Shops, which will be operating those businesses and others. Creative Host Services, which currently holds the food and beverage contract at the airport, plans to spend nearly $1.04 million at the airport for renovations needed for its new shops. The Paradies Shops, which currently operates retail stores at the airport, plans to spend nearly $1.09 million.

"By including a Keeneland and deSha's presence at the airport, we will be able to offer travelers a memorable glimpse into what makes the Bluegrass region so unique," said airport Executive Director Michael Gobb.

Details are still being worked out, but plans include replacing Creative Croissants Cafe & Spirits, which is outside the security checkpoint on the ground floor of the airport terminal, with Knob Creek Tavern and a Quiznos sandwich shop. DeSha's American Tavern is to replace the Bourbon Bar & Restaurant, past security at the top of the escalators.

"They will provide our passengers with Kentucky favorites such as hot Browns and fried green tomatoes, as well as regular fare," said airport spokeswoman Amy Caudill.

A Quiznos kiosk is to be placed in the airport's renovated Concourse C to provide travelers with a "quick grab-and-go eating option," Caudill said.

A new shop, Caff Ritazza, will be in the airport's new Concourse B. It will feature specialty coffees, pastries and sandwiches.

Prices at the shops are expected to be comparable to those at other Lexington eating establishments, Caudill said. The airport is expected to receive 13.5 percent of the food and beverage sales at these new businesses, the same percentage it receives now from the existing food and beverage shops.

Blue Grass MarketPlace will replace Lexington Gifts on the ground floor. In addition to the Keeneland Shop, the new store is to include The Paddock Shop, which would sell T-shirts and souvenirs, and a third shop that would offer newspapers, books and convenience items.

A CNBC News Lexington store would replace the shop that sells travel accessories and magazines at the top of the escalators between concourses A and B.

The New York Times Bookstore, which has been highly popular with travelers, would continue to operate under a new Paradies Shops contract, Caudill said.

Airport revenue from The Paradies Shops, now 10 percent of gross sales, would be based on a formula based on the number of passengers who leave the airport.

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