American casual dining restaurant chain Chili’s Grill & Bar is expanding its current space in the Jacksonville International Airport, located at 2400 Yankee Clipper Dr.
The national chain currently sits at the entrance of Concourse A but has closed for renovations, according to Jacksonville Daily Record. Food operator HMSHost promises a “new and improved Chili’s,” with up to 50% more bar seating and seating along the chair rails. The newly renovated site will be twice the size of the original. The opening date is unknown. Those searching for a burger in Concourse A will have to rely on BurgerFi, which opened last year.
“Chili’s has been the highest-grossing concession in our airport,” JAA Properties Manager Jeff Taylor tells JDR. “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.”
The plans are part of a much larger renovation process from the airport that intends to bring in more local flavor to travelers. While Chili’s is not a local restaurant, the airport has invested in several other Jacksonville-based businesses. Most recently, the airport announced that Angie’s Subs will open a quick-service restaurant in early 2024 in Concourse A. Vino Volo wine bar will double in size and add a Verdi Market to serve Jacksonville-based Pura Bean Coffee in Concourse A. These renovations are in preparation for constructing a six-gate Concourse B, which is expected to be completed in 2025.
“One of [our goals] 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 tells JRD. “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. This airport is the gateway to our community in North Florida, and to South Georgia, and to everywhere else where there’s not an airport. So, we want our passengers and our customers and our guests and our tourists to see the link to everything that North Florida has to offer.”
