MSP Airport Is Overhauling 48 Shops and Restaurants in Its Biggest Concessions Rebid in Over a Decade
MSP Airport Is Preparing for a Major Transformation
If you fly regularly through Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, the terminals you walk through today could look very different within the next few years.
The Metropolitan Airports Commission is beginning the airport’s largest concessions rebid process in more than a decade. A total of 48 shops, restaurants, cafés, and retail concepts across Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 will go through a full competitive rebid before current leases expire in 2027 and 2028.
By the time the rollout is complete in 2029, MSP’s food and retail mix could be significantly reshaped.
Which Shops and Restaurants Could Change
The rebid process affects a wide mix of both Minnesota-based brands and national operators currently serving travelers throughout the airport.
Some of the businesses included in the upcoming rebid include:
- Aveda
- iStore
- Johnston & Murphy
- Swarovski
- Sunglass Hut
- Tumi
- Red Cow
- Holy Land
- Open Book
- Caribou Coffee on Concourse G
- Dunkin’ Donuts
- Starbucks in Terminal 2
- Qdoba
Current operators are allowed to submit proposals to remain at MSP, but no business is automatically guaranteed renewal. Every location will go through an open competitive process.
One notable local tenant is Open Book, the Minneapolis nonprofit literary organization that has operated an airport location for roughly a decade. Executive Director Kellen Christopher told the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal that the airport presence has provided both financial support and visibility for the organization, and they intend to compete for renewal once the RFP process opens.
MSP Wants More Food and More Flexibility
Airport officials are signaling that the future vision for MSP will focus more heavily on dining and food experiences than traditional retail.
Preliminary plans call for 47 updated concession spaces, including:
- Seven quick-service restaurants
- Seven coffee concepts
- Four full-service restaurants
- Multiple convenience stores
- A spa and wellness concept
The MAC also wants to create more adaptable storefront layouts that can support multiple rotating brands over time, rather than locking into single concepts for long lease periods.
Full-service restaurants are expected to become smaller and more efficient, with most spaces targeting between 2,500 and 3,500 square feet.
The overall strategy reflects how airport passenger spending habits have shifted in recent years, especially toward food and beverage.
The Business Behind MSP’s Concessions Program
The commercial side of MSP Airport is a major business operation on its own.
According to airport data, MSP generated approximately $250 million in concessions revenue during 2025.
That breakdown included:
- About $186 million from food and beverage sales
- Roughly $36 million from retail sales
- Approximately $28 million from newsstands and convenience purchases
Airport officials also reported that roughly three out of every four passengers made a purchase while traveling through MSP during the year.
MAC CEO Brian Ryks told commissioners that the long-term goal is to create a stronger “sense of place” throughout the airport, emphasizing businesses and experiences that reflect Minnesota rather than relying solely on national chains.
Timeline for the MSP Airport Overhaul
The rebid process officially begins soon.
Key dates currently include:
- RFP release: May 26, 2026
- Proposal deadline: August 25, 2026
- Award announcements: Fourth quarter of 2026
- Construction start: Mid-2027
New shops and restaurants are expected to roll out in ten phases throughout 2028 and 2029.
That means many familiar airport staples will remain for another year or two, while others may disappear entirely depending on how the rebid process plays out.
For Twin Cities travelers, frequent flyers, and businesses hoping to secure a presence inside one of the Midwest’s busiest airports, this is one of the more significant commercial shifts MSP has seen in years.
Thinking about buying or selling in the Twin Cities? Let's talk. Text Darin Bjerknes at 612-702-5126 or DM on Instagram @darintheminnesotan.
