Behind the scenes
Peek behind the curtains to meet the cool and creative people defining the future of travel at PDX.
The Least-Airport-y Food in America is About to Get Even Tastier
Published September 12, 2019
Quick update: Concourse E is now complete. See how it came to life here.
If you’ve spent a couple of hours waiting in line for Portland’s most popular buttermilk-battered chicken and sweet potato waffles, then we’ve got good news: Your favorite brunch spot has unveiled plans for an outpost at PDX. And better yet, you won’t have to miss your flight to indulge.
As popular for its Southern flavors as its weekend crowds, Screen Door joins a roster of culinary stars setting up shop here over the next two years, as the newly expanded E and B concourses open in 2020 and 2021.
“It feels like we’re joining this Main Street at the airport,” says Nicole Mouton, who owns Screen Door with her husband, David. “As a traveler, I’m always impressed with how PDX is making a microcosm of Portland, pulling familiar concepts from around the city and putting them all in one place. It makes a big city feel more intimate, more like a community.”
The seven new spots range from Pacific Northwest icons such as Tillamook to neighborhood specialty roaster Good Coffee. (Read on to see the full roundup of newcomers.) Together they add even more dining options to an airport that’s already loved for its uniquely local food culture — something that few travelers realize is the result of a dedicated team working behind the scenes at the Port of Portland.
Why PDX Feels Like a Neighborhood
“Pretty much everything about how we approach our business is different from other airports,” says Abby Carey, concessions development manager at PDX.
It’s common for major U.S. airports to maintain only a handful of leases with what’s known in the industry as a “master concessionaire,” typically a multinational corporation that leases and manages retail space on an airport’s behalf; this tends to lock out small and disadvantaged businesses. “The revenues to these huge corporations obviously don’t stay in the community, and a level of brand culture and authenticity is noticeably lost when a master concessionaire controls the entire program,” she adds.
Comparatively, the Portland International Airport maintains more than 60 leases, with a balanced mix of larger concessionaires and very small businesses. And by the time the new restaurants and shops open, 26% of the concessions at PDX will be certified women- and minority-owned.
This distinct approach keeps PDX’s character feeling true to the region, which is one reason passengers spend more money here than they do at other airports across the country — nearly $14 on average, placing Portland in the top three airports for traveler sales.
“I’m very passionate about the culture of my hometown,” Abby says. “I see my job as curator of all things Oregon and sharing that with people from across the country and around the world.”
Serving Up Portland’s Food Scene
How does a restaurant get lucky enough to land a coveted storefront at PDX? It can be a challenging task, though PDX continues to take steps to reduce barriers to entry. Abby and her colleagues chat with businesses of all sizes and backgrounds to build awareness before the formal request for proposals (RFP) gets underway. After submission, proposals are scored on a range of detailed points from plans for employee wellbeing to waste reduction.
“The Port does an amazing job of reaching out to the community to encourage involvement from small businesses like ours,” says Katherine Lam, owner and president of Bambuza Vietnam Kitchen, which has a second PDX location slated for the expanded Concourse E. (You can enjoy Bambuza now at Concourse C.)
And the numbers from the latest RFP would seem to agree: The selection process for these new retail spaces was the most competitive in the airport’s history, with more than 40 applications received. That means more neighborhood character is coming soon to PDX.
“What I love about the airport’s food scene is that it reflects the Portland I see on the street every day,” Katherine says. “You find brands here that Portlanders love, small-businesses, and women- and minority-owned businesses. It gives travelers a taste of the true Portland experience.”
Your Dining Guide For the Future
Coming to Concourse E in summer 2020:
Bambuza Vietnam Kitchen — Get signature bánh mi, pho, rice bowls and more at this fast-casual spot, where 100% recyclable take-out packaging demonstrates eco-conscious values.
Evergreens — Get your greens on at this Pacific Northwest staple. Build your own bowls or order off a menu of salads that features produce from regional sources.
Jamba — OK, sometimes all we want is a cool, fruity smoothie. You can soon get your Jamba fix at PDX, too.
Juliett — Raise a glass to women in aviation at the latest concept from the Lighting Bar Collective, who are behind some of Portland’s trendiest hangouts including The Sweet Hereafter and The Bye and Bye.
Tillamook — You don’t have to go to the Oregon Coast to enjoy “dairy done right,” the mantra at this iconic creamery. Cheesy burgers, an ice cream counter and more Tillamook goodness is coming to PDX.
Coming to Concourse B in spring 2021:
Good Coffee — Champion baristas helm this specialty roaster, which operates some of the most stylish cafes throughout the city. Expect Scandinavian-inspired minimalism and plenty of house plants.
Screen Door — The wife-and-husband team behind this Southern comfort-food restaurant is teaming up with the pros at HMSHost to bring their vision to life at PDX.
The flexible interior spaces were designed with the future of travel in mind — and to give you plenty of comfortable spots to recharge before your next flight.
Two permanent installations from acclaimed contemporary artist Jacob Hashimoto hang like clouds above the concourse’s common areas.
Shops and restaurants are clustered together like city blocks, with a pedestrian-friendly scale and lots of room to spread out.
Artist Jacob Hashimoto’s canopy of kite-like discs reflects the atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest, with locally inspired graphics incorporated throughout.
Sky-high windows fill the interior with daylight while maximizing the concourse extension’s energy efficiency.
At the east end of the concourse, a wall of windows opens up this epic view of Mt. Hood, where you’ll definitely want to pose for a photo before takeoff.
The Concourse E extension project is the dedicated home for Southwest Airlines at PDX, with six new gates.
Remember the view of Mt. Hood on Concourse E? It’s coming back, brighter than ever.
Tillamook’s menu includes the best of the classics with fried cheese curds and a signature grilled cheese.
Calliope takes its name from one of Oregon’s native hummingbirds and showcases creative and playful keepsakes.
Grab your favorite book, magazine or newspaper at Your Northwest Travel Mart.
Remember the feeling of walking through an Oregon forest for the first time?
That feeling inspired the design of the new Concourse B.
An early movement flow study for the new Concourse B.
The new Concourse B has great exposure to southern light.
Interior rendering for the new Concourse B.
The new Concourse B has Pacific Northwest touches like warm wood panels and indoor greenery.
Exterior rendering of the new Concourse B.
The six new ground loading gates for Alaska Airlines are bigger and brighter.
Our new rental car center opens in 2021.
Movable plants and furniture make the space flexible.
When the new rental car center opens in 2021, you won’t need a shuttle to pick up your car.
Interior acoustical materials help reduce noise.
The new facility also provides more long-term parking, new office spaces, and a new and relocated parking toll plaza building.
A new exit plaza opened in November 2019.
Every design decision we make is about keeping the heart and soul of PDX intact. You’ll see homages to all the things you love about our city and region in the new airport designs.
The new terminal’s wooden roof (as seen in this close-up rendering, right) might remind you of daylight filtering through forest canopies.
You’ll notice subtle nods to Pacific Northwest elements throughout the new space. The ripples and currents of our pristine rivers, for example, are inspiring the undulating flow of the wooden roof, as depicted in this architectural model (right).
We’re filling the new main terminal with a lot of Portland love — both in terms of regionally sourced materials and, well, doughnuts. (C’mon, what would PDX be without doughnuts?)
You’ll see a scene something like this when you enter the more spacious ticket lobby at PDX. This early architectural rendering previews the vision for the iconic wooden roof — inspired by Pacific Northwest nature, craft and our partly sunny skies.
Natural light, living trees and native Oregon foliage might give you the feeling of walking through a park, as this early architectural rendering shows.
Expanding the heart of the airport creates more spaces for the local shops and restaurants you love. Architects are thoughtfully planning these public spaces to resemble the human-friendly scale of your favorite Portland neighborhoods.