SAN DIEGO — Construction is well underway on the recent Terminal 1 at San Diego International Airport (SAN). While it will be some time before it opens to the public, details about the recent building are starting to emerge.
On Tuesday, SAN revealed the list of the first recent concessionaires that will appear in the recent airport building with the planned phased opening of the transport hub in tardy 2025 and early 2028.
In the first phase of Terminal 1 opening in 2025, travelers will be able to enjoy four flavors from San Diego.
Popular coffee chain Better Buzz Coffee Roasters will be one of the concessions opening in the first phase. The location will be right across from the airport-side security checkpoint, perfect for early morning passengers looking to grab a coffee or pastry before their flight.
Terminal 1 will also welcome the Parakeet Café, which will offer travellers a menu combining delicious, well dishes with an airport-specific sizzling breakfast.
Cutwater Spirits is the latest in a line of announced additions to open with the terminal’s first phase, bringing the distillery’s nationally acclaimed spirits and cocktails to the largest restaurant space on the building’s east end, near the Southwest Airlines gates. Encinitas-based coffee roastery Lofty Coffee will also occupy a quarter of the 2,903-square-foot space.
With the opening of the second phase of Terminal 1 in 2028, three more facilities will open in San Diego to serve passengers.
Kettner Exchange — Little Italy’s rooftop bar known for its pioneering cocktails — will have a recent freestanding bar in the main part of the building. The outpost will feature a food and drink menu curated by chef Brian Redzikowski, as well as art exhibits and a stage for performances.
Puesto, meanwhile, will showcase its unique takes on classic Mexican cuisine in the largest dining space on the west side of the recent terminal, which will feature Delta Air Lines and other airlines, as well as small-scale coffee roaster Mostra Coffee, based in Carmel Mountain Ranch.
All of the recent restaurants and bars will be operated by High Flying Foods, a San Francisco-based airport concession enterprise, according to the airport authority, with the exception of Parakeet Café, which will be operated by Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise.
According to the airport authority, 15 recent concessions will open in 2025 and another 10 in 2028. Of the 25 stores, 32,000 square feet of recent concessions will be additional airport restaurants and 14,000 square feet will be retail outlets.
The decision on what will occupy the remaining retail space will be made in the coming months by the Board of Directors of the Airport Management Board.
The nearly $3.4 billion SAN Terminal 1 project broke ground in tardy 2021. By the time it is completed in 2028, the terminal will have 11 additional gates, as well as recent amenities and improved access to public transportation to and from the airport.
