The expanded and renovated Chili’s restaurant at Jacksonville International Airport will reopen Aug. 21, according to a Jacksonville Aviation Authority spokesperson June 26.
JAA said previously the restaurant would reopen in the third quarter, but no date was specified.
There will be up to 50% more bar seating as well as seating along the chair rails.
The site is in the post-security area for ticketed passengers, near the entrance to Concourse A.
The city issued a permit March 4 for Auld & White Constructors LLC to build out the restaurant’s new space at a cost of almost $1.3 million.
Jacksonville-based Auld & White is renovating the 4,385-square-foot space for tenant HMSHost International of Bethesda, Maryland.
“Chili’s has been the highest-grossing concession in our airport. Right before it closed due to the security checkpoint project, it had just reached $5 million in sales. So with a 50% expansion of this unit, we expect it to expand significantly,” JAA Properties Manager Jeff Taylor told the authority board July 27, 2023.
Taylor told the board the focus on concessions development the past several years has been driven by two goals.
“One of those is to rebalance the existing program that we’ve had, which has been heavy on the retail, and a high demand for food and beverage, so we’ve been wanting to bring more restaurants to support the growing demand for food and beverage services,” Taylor said.
“And secondly, we’ve been focused on bringing in more local flavors for our passengers to experience. We want our airports to be reflective of the sense of place in Jacksonville,” he said.
Other recently added or expanded dining options at JIA include Firehouse Subs, a second Southern Grounds & Co. before the security checkpoint, Angie’s Subs and a larger Vino Volo.
Paradies Lagardere operates Vino Volo. HMSHost operates the rest of the dining areas with Lee Wesley Group.
The North Jacksonville airport at 2400 Yankee Clipper Drive is preparing to add a third concourse and has been moving and upgrading its concessions.