Sacramento restaurateur Randy Paragary’s empire looks to be taking off again – this time to the new Sacramento International Airport terminal.
Paragary’s proposal for a full service restaurant – part Cafe Bernardo, part Esquire Grill – heads a list of local businesses chosen to bring Sacramento flavor to the airport’s new central terminal and jet concourse buildings.
Burgers and Brew, Dos Coyotes, Jack’s Urban Eats and Cafeteria 15 L also made the list of local eateries to be presented to the county Board of Supervisors next week for approval.
Paragary, a leader on the Sacramento food scene for decades, edged out a proposal by midtown chef Patrick Mulvaney for the airport’s only full-service restaurant. The eatery would be located past the passenger security checkpoint in the new jet concourse’s central hall, backed by picture windows overlooking the north airfield.
“I’m thrilled,” said Paragary, who partnered with national concession operator HMSHost. “The airport and Host are trying to make this a true destination restaurant, where people will look forward to getting to the airport early to take some stress off travel.”
The billion-dollar airport terminal and concourse buildings are scheduled to open in late 2011.
Airport officials said they believe they have put together a diverse portfolio of eateries – on both sides of the security checkpoint – that bring local names and local products to the table, and elevate dining options at the airport.
“We don’t want to be a cookie-cutter airport,” marketing head Cheryl Marcell said. “We want a sense of place.”
It also could prove to be lucrative for restaurateurs who win one of the coveted spots. More than 6 million passengers and meeters and greeters will use the new terminal in its first year, spending what officials estimate will be $20 million.
“If they are doing a good job and people like their food, they can do very well financially,” said Pauline Armbrust, president of Airport Revenue News magazine. “A lot of restaurateurs do better in their airport restaurants.”
The food recommendations, unveiled Monday, were made by a panel of executives from Sacramento, Oakland and San Francisco airports, and a representative of the Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization.
Local restaurants that did not make the list included Selland’s Market-Cafe, Squeeze Inn, Old Soul, Zocalo and Fat City.
Each local food business is partnered with one of two international companies, HMSHost or SSP, which have experience in airport food concessions.
Airport officials said they wanted the companies to be involved because they know how to run food service while dealing with security issues and other unique demands of the airport environment.
Airport officials said they want to sign contracts soon, to leave HMSHost and SSP enough time to work with local restaurateurs on their concepts, and to design and build the food outlets.
Although the food outlets will be managed by the international companies, local restaurateurs say they will maintain quality control over the product, including providing their own menus and ingredients, and training servers and cooks.
“They want (us) to be involved from A to Z,” Paragary said recently, “from the look of the restaurant, the style of food, the recipes, the ingredients, the vendors we use, the uniforms and the style of service.”
Burgers and Brew owner Derar Zawaydeh said a presence at the airport might turn out to be the ticket to expanding his burger restaurant to other airports and other cities.
“It’s about time airport food changes in terms of quality,” Zawaydeh said. “We will run audits to make sure what is done at the airport is comparable to what we do on the street.”
Several national chains were recommended as well, including Starbucks and Peets coffee outlets.
The panel also recommended the following:
• Famous Famiglia Pizzeria, a national pizza and pasta chain.
• Gateway Bar, a new bar and food concept from SSP.
• Camden Food Co., a British-based firm offering grab-and-go sandwiches and salads.
• A second Vino Volo wine bar, complementing the one in Terminal A.
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