Minneapolis Airport Flying High

Northstar Crossing, the retail and concessions area at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, was named Number One in five separate categories in the 2002 Airport Retail News Best Concession Poll.

The five categories are: Airport with Best Concessions Program Design; Best Redeveloped Program; Best Management Team; Most Overall Program; and Most Innovative Services. Last year, MSP won the first four categories and was among the top five airports for the fifth category.

The center opened in 1998 with 65 food, beverage and retail outlets in the airport's two terminals — Charles Lindbergh and Hubert Humphrey. There are now 90 outlets and in 2002 the airport will add four concessions as part of the expansion of Concourse C and the opening of new regional concourses A and B. New concessions will include a full-service restaurant, the Itasca Grill, and a food court featuring an A&W, Godfathers and Rapidos.

Joe Anderson, retail and concessions development manager for the Metropolitan Airports Commission, cited the architects and builders as among those responsible for “making Northstar Crossing an industry leader.”

The awards program is conducted by World Airport Retail News, which evaluates concession programs and concessionaires throughout the nation.