Contact(s)
Kerry Hassen
Senior Manager Corporate CommunicationsDelaware North
Email: khassen@dncinc.com
Phone: 716-858-5016
Melissa Thompson
Vice President, Corporate Communications
O’Charley’s Inc.
(615) 782-6908
Jerry Daly
Daly Gray Public Relations
Media Contact
(703) 435-6293
Delaware North Companies Opens First Airport O’Charley’s
NASHVILLE, TENN./BUFFALO, N.Y., (July 9, 2007) — O’Charley’s Inc., a leading casual-dining restaurant company, and Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services, a new O’Charley’s franchisee and one of the world’s leading airport food service and retail providers, today announced the opening on Friday, July 6 of an O’Charley’s restaurant in the Nashville International Airport, Concourse C. The restaurant is part of Delaware North’s planned expansion of food and beverage operations at the airport under a long-term contract awarded by the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA). It is the first O’Charley’s restaurant to be located in an airport.
“As air traffic has continued to grow, so has the variety and level of sophistication of airport retail shopping and dining,” said Jeff Warne, O’Charley’s concept president. “We view the airport restaurant segment as a major growth opportunity for O’Charley’s, and we are delighted to be partnering with Delaware North, our newest franchisee and a highly regarded airport food service company with a proven track record, in this new venture. We look forward to building on our relationship with them.
“Delaware North plans to bring a dynamic mix of local and national brands to the Nashville airport that offers a broad palette of flavors, cuisines and menu choices that showcase the city and are popular with Nashville visitors. We are honored to be the first to open.”
At 5,800 square feet, the airport O’Charley’s has seating for 140 and is similar in size and design to the company’s new smaller Prototype 6. According to restaurant General Manager Leo “Skip” Johnson, the menu has been modified to accommodate the greater speed of service necessary in an airport setting and includes a number of O’Charley’s signature items and guest favorites that can be prepared to meet travelers’ needs—unsliceably soft yeast rolls, Chicken O’Tenders and Ooey Gooey Caramel Pie, to name a few. “We also will offer two features unique to our airport location: continental breakfast and ‘Grab & Go,’ which includes a variety of freshly prepared pre-made salads, like our Southern Fried Chicken Salad and the California Chicken Salad, as well as such sandwiches as the Black & Bleu Caesar Wrap and Club Sandwich. This combination accommodates those who have the time to enjoy a leisurely meal in comfortable surroundings, and also allows those who are running to catch their plane an opportunity to take an appetizing, well-prepared meal on board with them.”
“We have experience and relationships with both local and national brands and intend to take food and beverage concessions to the next level at Nashville International Airport,” said Nick Biello, chief operating officer, Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services. “Using the airport as a gateway to the city of Nashville, Delaware North will offer the best in local and regional food and entertainment, including O’Charley’s, and a host of other concepts set to open later in the year.”
The expanded food and beverage service are part of phase one of the airport’s $44 million renovation project. The airport authority expects total food service offerings to bring in more than $26 million a year, up from the $16.1 million annual gross income in 2006. The MNAA targeted Nashville businesses for inclusion in its renovation plans after a customer survey found that people at the airport trust local brands as much as national brands.
The Nashville airport O’Charley’s generally will be open from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily, but hours may vary with airline schedules.
About Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services
Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services, a subsidiary of Delaware North Companies, is one of the nation’s leading airport food service and retail companies, operating 300 restaurants and retail outlets in more than 25 airports worldwide, and serving more than 350 million customers each year. The GuestPath® customer service training program ensures that all Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services associates embody the company’s vision of “Providing Care and Comfort to People Away from Home.”
About Delaware North Companies
Delaware North Companies is one of the world’s leading hospitality and food service providers. Its family of companies includes Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment, Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services, Delaware North Companies Sportservice, Delaware North Companies International, TD Banknorth Garden and American Park ‘n Swap. Delaware North Companies is one of the largest privately held companies in the United States with revenues approaching $2 billion annually and 40,000 associates serving half a billion customers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. For more information, visit www.DelawareNorth.com.
About O’Charley’s Inc.
Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., O’Charley’s Inc. is a multi-concept restaurant company that operates or franchises a total of 363 restaurants under three brands: O’Charley’s, Ninety Nine Restaurant, and Stoney River Legendary Steaks. The O’Charley’s concept includes 240 restaurants in 19 states in the Southeast and Midwest, including 229 company-owned and operated O’Charley’s restaurants in 16 states; four franchised O’Charley’s restaurants in Michigan; one franchised restaurant each in Ohio, Iowa, and Tennessee; three joint venture O’Charley’s restaurants in Louisiana; and one joint venture O’Charley’s in Wisconsin. The menu, with an emphasis on fresh preparation, features several specialty items, such as hand-cut and aged USDA choice steaks, a variety of seafood and chicken, freshly baked yeast rolls, fresh salads with special-recipe salad dressings and signature caramel pie. The company operates
Ninety Nine restaurants in 113 locations throughout Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Ninety Nine has earned a strong reputation as a friendly, comfortable place to gather and enjoy great American food and drink at a terrific price. The menu features a wide selection of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, burgers, entrees and desserts. The company operates 10 Stoney River Legendary Steaks restaurants in Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee. The steakhouse concept appeals to both upscale casual-dining and fine-dining guests by offering high-quality food and attentive customer service typical of high-end steakhouses, but at more moderate prices.