b'CONCESSIONSSYR75The Syracuse market represents a fresh growth opportunity for QDOBA as part of our broader expansion into the Northeast, says Shannon St. Clair, manager of Non-Traditional Business Development for the international chain. The airport serves a loyal and local customer base, offering QDOBASHANNON ST. CLAIRthe chance to build brand affinity with both residents and travelers alike.St. Clair notes that the companys entry into SYR came through a strategic partnership with an ACDBE-certified franchiseeGideon Toal Management Servicesthat shares a deep passion for both the QDOBA brand and the Syracuse community. To be sure, SYR is small compared to Denver International, HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International and other major airports where QDOBA operations are located. But St. Clair reports that it is holding its own overall. Given the smaller scale at SYR, theThe airport unveiled both new concessions with fanfare. company focuses on operational excellence and guest satisfaction (rather than gross sales) as key performance indicators. And St. Clair reports that the results at SYR are very promising so far. It continues to see strong engagement from travelers and airport employees alike, and benefits from a more intimate setting, which allows for personalized guest interactions and a boutique-style experience, she remarks. Pop-Up OptionAnother big-airport concession at SYR is Chick-fil-A. Twice a month on Thursdays, a local operator for the popular quick-serve chicken chain stages a pop-up location in the airports pre-security Grand Hall. The pared-down menu features chicken sandwiches, salads and nuggets, plus cookies for dessert. The pop-ups began last fall and might be expanding soon. We are hoping to add additional days to our schedule, especially as we start to transition into the holiday season, says Taylor Cannon, director of Catering and Marketing for the Chick-fil-A in Cicero, NY.TAYLOR CANNONLike many others, the business initially experienced a significant learning curve about operating in an airport environment. Disappointing visibility/exposure was one of the main challenges. We have since installed a custom wall wrap and implemented a more consistent social media presence, and our sales have now doubled, Cannon reports. Apparently, Chick-fil-A had to make a few adjustments to make it in the big league of airport concessionseven at a small airport like SYR. AirportImprovement.comOctober 2025'