News

Smashburger providing full-service option in Denver airport

March 21, 2016

Smashburger plans to open two new locations at Denver International Airport through its new franchisee, Midfield Concession Enterprises. The restaurants are expected to open in late 2016 and early 2017, according to a company press release.

The full-service restaurants will occupy the 3,573- and 2,317-square foot spaces on concourses B and C that currently house Lefty's Mile High Bar and Grill, and Lefty's Front Range Grill. Midfield Concession Enterprises (MCE) will offer jobs to the 85 employees impacted by the closure of the Lefty's restaurants. The new Smashburger locations will feature a full bar and a breakfast menu, in addition to Smashburger's traditional lunch and dinner offerings, said Rick Schaden, Smashburger co-founder and chairman

"We are excited for our relationship with MCE-DIA and for MCE to bring Smashburger's better burgers to our hometown airport for the first time," he said. "As we continue our rapid expansion of restaurants in non-traditional spaces like airports and casino locations, we look forward to the opening of the first Denver airport location and giving travelers the opportunity to taste local Denver flavors as they come and go from our hometown."

The MCE-DIA proposal is a 10-year contract that will also bring Tom's Urban. The restaurant brand was developed and operated by Consumer Concept Group, which began in 2013 with the vision and funding of Schaden. The new deal is the largest food and beverage contract that the airport has ever awarded, according to the release.

The project continues Smashburger's strategy to bring the brand to non-traditional locations from travel sites to college campuses. Smashburger currently operates in 10 airport locations across the globe with additional locations coming soon.

Franchising