Local, minority-owned business participation at Terminal 3 of Los Angeles Airport (LAX) has significantly increased with the arrival of new dining and retail units at the Delta Air Lines hub.
LAX operator Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) together with master retail concessionaire Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Airports and Delta Air Lines have just added a line-up at T3 that raises the bar on diversity and inclusivity.
It means that 22 minority business owners are present at the Delta terminal, achieving Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) participation of 43% for food and beverage (F&B) and 36% for retail and smashing the respective project goals of 25% and 20%. The program from the Department of Transportation offers financial assistance to airports and other transport agencies.
Eboni Wimbush, president and CEO of the Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) said she was proud of LAX exceeding its ACDBE goals and “setting a new standard for airport concessions nationwide.” Earlier this year the council partnered with Lendistry to make it easier for minority businesses to raise finance.
The new concessions complete the retail and F&B mix at T3 and include a mix of local favorites, celebrity-owned restaurants, travel essentials stores, gifts, and some “airport firsts.”
Among them are Alfred, a noted coffee house debuting at an airport through 100% minority-owned operator Concord Collective; deli chain Fat Sal’s and sushi hot spot Yakumi, both through Crews Companies another minority-owned concessionaire; bakery Homeboy through travel retailer Areas; and Native by Nyesha led by chef Nyesha Arrington.
Local, woman-owned Fly Away Foods also makes its airport debut with the opening of Jamba, serving fresh smoothies, bowls, and squeezed juices. It joins 100% woman-owned Gameway, a video gaming lounge offering personal gaming stations and a retro-gaming bar.
“Lowering barriers to entry”
Karim Webb, president of LAWA’s board of airport commissioners, said: “These efforts prove that our partnerships with URW and Delta are not just about enhancing the travel experience but championing local and minority-owned businesses that showcase the best of Los Angeles.”
Dominic Lowe, the U.S. chief operating officer at France-listed commercial property developer Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, commented: “We’re lowering the barriers to entry for small, local, and disadvantaged businesses. Our partnership with LAWA and concession partners is creating economic opportunities for our communities.”
At mid-year, URW’s $50 billion portfolio was 86% focused on retail, 6% on offices, 5% on conventions and exhibitions, and 2% on services. The company operates 71 shopping centers in 12 countries.
The new restaurant and retail concessions that have been added are part of LAWA and Delta’s $2.3 billion modernization project to consolidate Terminals 2 and 3. The large complex is 1.2 million square feet and houses 27 gates.
The new retail and F&B mix at T3 is standard-setting because Delta is influential at LAX. In the seven months to July, the airlines carried 8.4 million passengers, an 18.9% share of the airport’s total count, more than any other carrier. Second- and third-placed American Airlines and United had shares of just over 15.5% each. Pre-pandemic, Delta played second fiddle to American Airlines at the west-coast gateway.
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