TULSA, OK – November 20, 2018 – Tulsa International Airport celebrated the grand opening of Chili’s Grill & Bar this afternoon with a ribbon cutting event and open house for guests to explore the new restaurant.
The opening of Chili’s marks the final installment of an 18-month long concession transition that now provides Tulsa travelers with all new food and beverage offerings. There are now nine dining options for Tulsa travelers, including:
- Chili’s: Connector Boulevard (post-security)
- Dead Armadillo Tarmac Taproom: Concourse A
- Einstein Bros. Bagels & Caribou Coffee: Concourse A, Food Court, Schwab Hall (pre-security)
- Eau de Vie Wine Bar: Connector Boulevard (post-security)
- Topeca Coffee: Connector Boulevard (post-security)
- Smok’d BBQ: Food Court
- Fat Guys Burger Bar: Concourse B
Construction began after the new operator, Creative Food Group, took over management of the concession operations on May 1, 2017. The airport’s food and beverage program underwent a complete transformation, with Creative Food Group investing over $5 million in airport facilities, providing an upgraded experience for Tulsa customers. The new offerings have been well-received by passengers, with a 31% increase in sales over the past year.
“It has been an exciting process bringing the best brands to Tulsa International”, said Altaf Isani, president and CEO of Creative Food Group, “and we are very excited about adding Chili’s to our portfolio of brands.”
Chili’s is located in the Connector Boulevard, just beyond the security checkpoint.
“We have been anxiously awaiting the opening of Chili’s, and are excited that this marks this final phase of construction for our food and beverage program,” said Mark VanLoh, CEO of Tulsa Airports. “Not only do we offer local Tulsa brands, but we are able to offer a national brand like Chili’s that is instantly recognizable for our customers. We believe this will not only improve the customer experience, but also increase non-airline revenue.”
This will be the third new Chili’s opened in a U.S. airport this year.
“We’re excited to begin what we believe will be a longstanding partnership with CFG, and to open their first Chili’s at Tulsa International Airport,” said Nathan Baldwin, vice president of strategic growth at Chili’s. “Our Team Members look forward to delivering a great experience to the Tulsa travelers. Chili’s is dedicated to continuing our growth and providing travelers exceptional food, service and atmosphere in airports throughout the nation.”
Chili’s will be open 365 days a year and will open at 5:00 AM until 7:00 PM.
Chili’s is now open for customers as the airport prepares for a busy week of Thanksgiving travel. Compared to last year at this time, seat capacity at TUL is up 9.3% and airport officials expect over 86,000 passengers to travel through Tulsa International Airport throughout the week.
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About Tulsa International Airport: Seven air carriers provide nonstop service to 22 airports across the United States. 2.8 million passengers traveled through the airport in 2017. Year to date activity through October 2018 is up 6.49%. For more information on nonstop flights from Tulsa, visit www.flytulsa.com.