McNamara Terminal - DTW Phase 4 Food & Beverage Concession Opportunities

The Wayne County Airport Authority is seeking proposals for two food and beverage concession packages at the McNamara Terminal in Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport through RFP #240757. Package 1 is a 10-year contract for two spaces totaling 3,442 square feet, including a national coffee concept and a local or national quick-service restaurant. Package 2 is a 15-year contract for a 3,620 square foot bar lounge with food, retail cigars, and an enclosed cigar smoking area. The airport is looking for innovative concepts that enhance passenger experience, with proposers required to submit detailed design plans, financial projections, and operational strategies. Proposers must provide a minimum capital investment of $650 per square foot and demonstrate extensive experience in airport food and beverage operations. A pre-proposal conference and site tour are scheduled for October 16, 2025, with final proposals due by January 15, 2026. Evaluation criteria will focus on concept design, financial return, management plan, operational experience, and customer service potential.

The procurement includes significant Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) participation requirements, with a 24% ACDBE goal for Package 1 and a 19% goal for Package 2. Proposers must either meet these goals or demonstrate good faith efforts to engage disadvantaged businesses through comprehensive documentation and vendor partnerships. All proposed ACDBE firms must be certified by the Michigan Unified Certification Program and perform a commercially useful function within the contract. The spaces are currently occupied by various temporary and existing businesses, including Starbucks, Wall Street Journal, and Be Relax Spa. Financial projections are based on projected enplanements, with airport traffic expected to increase from 11,933,100 in 2024 to 14,132,423 by 2041. The concession agreements include complex financial structures, with fees calculated based on the greater of a percentage of gross sales or a minimum monthly fee, plus a 0.25% marketing fund contribution. Potential award values are substantial, with initial capital investments estimated around $2,353,000 for Package 2 and proportional investments for Package 1.