The new Metropolis Coffee concession at Terminal 5 at O’Hare International Airport, Aug. 13, 2024. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) today welcomed five new concessionaires to O’Hare International Airport’s Terminal 5 during a series of ceremonial opening events. Publican Quality Bread, Six Points Market, Metropolis Coffee Company, InMotion and BLVD & Branch all bring a variety of food, beverage and retail options to the airport.
“These are incredibly dynamic times in Terminal 5 and I am delighted to join our concession partners today in welcoming these new brands on behalf of Mayor Brandon Johnson,” said CDA Commissioner Jamie L. Rhee“As one of the busiest aviation systems in the world, we must continually work to optimize the travel experience for passengers at O’Hare and Midway International Airport. We are pleased to add Publican Quality Bread, Six Points Market, Metropolis Coffee Company, InMotion and BLVD & Branch to the large and growing list of concessionaires in Terminal 5.”
Publican Quality Bread is operated by HMSHost and is part of Chicago-based One Off Hospitality Group, which specializes in long-fermented whole-grain baked goods. Publican – whose sister company is Fulton Market charcuterie Publican Quality Meats – operates locations in the West Town community and suburb of Oak Park. The bakery’s goods are served in more than 70 Chicago locations and are available at 12 Chicagoland locations. Through their partners, they also operate Publican Tavern in Terminal 3.
“All of us at One Off Hospitality Group and Publican Quality Bread are excited and grateful for another opportunity to work with HMSHost in the newly completed Terminal 5,” said Donnie Madia, One Off Hospitality Partner“We love our airport partnership with the City of Chicago and HMSHost. We hope to continue to extend our hospitality and delicious food to all guests traveling through one of the busiest airports in the world. Thank you, O’Hare International Airport!”
The new locations in Terminal 5 for Six Points Market, Metropolis Coffee, InMotion and BLVD & Branch were developed through operating partnerships with specialty retailer WHSmith North America.
Six Points Market is a Chicago-style store named after the six points of the four stars on the city’s official flag. The store sells snacks, souvenirs, books, and various travel accessories, among other items.
Metropolis Coffee Company operates four locations in Chicago, including its 18,000-square-foot headquarters on the North Branch of the Chicago River and its new location at O’Hare in the Six Points Market. The company was previously named “Roaster of the Year” by trade publication Roast Magazine.
“We are very excited to bring such a popular local Chicago brand to O’Hare International Airport,” said Metropolis partners Sulaiman and Farhana Rahim“This has been an incredible journey as two Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) companies and a father-daughter duo came together and collaborated with WHS and the CDA on this once in a lifetime opportunity. We are excited to be able to serve great coffee to everyone who walks through Terminal 5.”
InMotion is the world’s largest airport retailer of electronic products, with stores in 46 North American airports and over 50 locations worldwide. In addition to its Terminal 5 location, InMotion operates five stores in O’Hare, including a Headphone Hub-branded store. BLVD & Branch offers locally inspired accessories from brands such as Frango Mint Chocolates and ChiBoys, the latter of which recently opened a store in Terminal 3. BLVD & Branch also carries other items from brands that are heavily represented by various companies.
“We would like to thank the Chicago Department of Aviation and all of our local partners for the opportunity to enhance the travel experience at O’Hare International Airport,” said Toby Keir, CEO of WH Smith North America. “We strive to ensure the local community is well represented in every market we serve, and Chicago has so many unique stories to tell. This collection of stores has created an authentic shopping experience for travelers and offers them the opportunity to take a piece of the Windy City with them.”
The new concessions join Bar Siena and The Hampton Social, which recently opened in Terminal 5, and new locations for Chick-fil-A and Protein Bar & Kitchen are scheduled to open later this summer. There are currently 230 concession locations at O’Hare, including 38 in Terminal 5.
