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CONCESSIONS  
November | December 2026      AirportImprovement.com
GRR
The aircraft viewing park at Gerald 
R. Ford International Airport (GRR) 
in Grand Rapids, MI, is a popular 
hangout for people with an appetite for 
watching planes take off and land. 
But there’s even more on the 
menu during summer. On Food Truck 
Wednesdays, plane watchers also can 
enjoy entrees ranging from burgers and 
hot dogs to Mexican, Greek and Asian 
fare, with treats like ice cream for dessert. 
Fresh coffee and other drinks are also 
available. 
“The community 
really enjoys the 
food trucks; they’re 
quite popular,” says 
Carlos Ruiz, chief 
commercial officer at 
the Gerald R. Ford 
International Airport 
Authority, which owns and operates GRR. 
“It’s a great way to increase community 
participation and bring people closer to 
the airport.”
It’s not unusual for airports to provide 
a place for the public to watch airfield 
activity and many in-terminal concessions 
feature views of runways. But GRR is 
part of a small group of U.S. airports with 
viewing parks that include food trucks.
Charlotte Douglas International 
Airport (CLT) in North Carolina features a 
600,000-square-foot viewing area with an 
airport-themed playground, a retired F-4 
Phantom II military jet and food trucks. 
On the smaller end of the scale, Arcadia 
Municipal in South Florida stations food 
trucks on the perimeter of its airfield to 
attract visitors. (See May/June 2023 issue 
of Airport Improvement for more details.)
Food Trucks Elevate Viewing Park 
Experience at Gerald Ford Int’l BY KEN WYSOCKY
FACTS&FIGURES 
Project: Food Trucks
Location: Gerald R. Ford Int’l Airport, 
in Grand Rapids, MI
Where: 12-acre viewing park on south side of airport
Lineup: Rotating group of 6-8 food trucks each week
Operating Schedule: 10 a.m. until about 4 p.m. on 
Wednesdays, June through Aug.
Established: 2022 (with 2 food trucks)
Park Amenities: 162 parking spaces, most angled 
toward airfield; live feed from air traffic control tower; 
benches; covered pavilion with restrooms, filtered 
drinking fountains & picnic tables; dedicated circular 
parking for food trucks, with electric power outlets
Cost: $1.1 million for pavilion; about $850,000 for 
expanded parking & circular food truck area
Funding: General airport revenue
Vendor Permit Fee: $100/summer
Marketing: Social media
Key Benefits: Enhanced community engagement; 
good public relations
CARLOS RUIZ

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