The John Wayne Airport is looking for retailers for terminal C, a $196 million, 282,000-square-foot addition that’s under construction (see story, page 1).
The six-gate terminal is slated for completion at the end of 2011 and is part of a $543 million airport improvement project that is expected to create about 6,600 jobs.
The airport recently put out a request for proposals detailing desired retailers, which include a full-service restaurant that also serves breakfast, a few to-go food shops and other gift stores and boutiques. Retailers also are being sought for existing terminals A and B.
All ideas are welcome, said Jenny Wedge, spokeswoman for the airport. Proposal deadlines are in August.
Retailers will be chosen by specific criteria, she said.
Some of airport’s current concessionaires are expected to bid and the airport is encouraging local retailers to submit proposals as well.
The main retailer at the airport is Bethesda, Md.-based HMSHost Corp., one of the largest companies operating in the airport concession market.
HMSHost runs the Oasis Grill & Sky Lounge, all the Starbucks and some of the snack shops.
Other restaurant, shops and concessionaires at the airport include McDonald’s, which is run by an independent franchisee; Creative Croissants, part of Creative Host Services Inc.; Atlanta-based The Paradies Shops, which runs news and gifts shops; New Jersey-based Hudson Group’s Hudson News, which runs news and gift shops; Sunglass Hut/Life is Good boutique; and Caterina’s, a San Clemente-based candy company.
During the worst of the recession, when airport passenger counts dropped, food and beverage concession sales also were down, except for sales at McDonald’s.
McDonald’s sales were $5.9 million for the year ended in June 2009, up 5% from a year earlier.
Sales at McDonald’s at the airport have been on the rise since 2004, when sales were $5.3 million.
HMSHost saw sales decline to $15 million for the year ending June 2009, down 17% from a year earlier.
Creative Croissants’ sales slipped to $1.2 million for the year ended June 2009 from $1.4 million a year earlier.
Boating Up
Boat show producer Duncan McIntosh, owner of Irvine-based boat show producer and magazine publisher Duncan McIntosh Co., says he’s seen more optimism lately in the boating business.
“The buying mood has been better for the last six months,” McIntosh said.
He just wrapped up the Newport Boat show, which features yachts for sale.
To get an idea of just how badly new boat sales have suffered recently, from 2006 to 2007 national boat sales dropped by 70,310 to 841,820, which was the largest drop in a decade.
From 2007 to 2008 boat sales fell by another 137,000 to 704,820, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association.
Florida is the top state for boat registrations and California is the second.
McIntosh produces the Newport Boat Show and the Lido Yacht Expo. It also publishes Sea Magazine, Boating World, The Log, FishRap and Editor & Publisher.
ASR Dates
The San Juan Capistrano-based Action Sports Retailer apparel trade show adjusted its 2011 dates to better accommodate retail buyers’ schedules.
The new dates: Jan. 13 to Jan. 15 and Aug. 18 to Aug. 20.
ASR, which showcases action sports brands to buyers representing retailers such as Anaheim-based Pacific Sunwear of California Inc. and Macy’s Inc., is held at the San Diego Convention Center.
This year, the fall Agenda Tradeshow, a smaller show at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa, will be held Aug. 4 to Aug. 5.
Agenda hasn’t announced its 2011 dates yet.
Concours d’Elegance Dates
The 28th annual Dana Point Concours d’Elegance, a charity event that showcases classic cars, is set for June 27 at the St. Regis Resort Hotel and Spa Monarch Beach in Dana Point. The event will include a private collection tour, which will stop at Crevier Classic Cars in Costa Mesa and Irvine-based Gaffoglio Family Metalcrafters, which restores cars and makes concept vehicles. The tour ends in Pasadena at the Flying A Garage.
Seven 7-Elevens
Paul and Manjeet Ghuman opened their 7th 7-Eleven here in Huntington Beach.
7-Eleven Inc., which has its Southwest headquarters in Brea and is part of Japan’s Seven & I Holdings Co., has been working with independent convenience store owners to turn their stores into 7-Elevens.
