WASHINGTON — The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is not quite halfway through a four-year redevelopment program, and it says it just hit a milestone: The 100th restaurant or retail store at its two airports.
Erwin Pearl, a Rhode Island-based jewelry store, opened at Dulles International Airport on Feb. 11.
MWAA’s redevelopment program hopes to take away the stigma of bad food and overpriced stores that the airport industry has long had.
“From the beginning of the redevelopment, our focus has been to bring a new variety of shopping and dining options to the airports, providing our passengers with local, regional and national favorites that will enhance and highlight their time with us,” said Steve Baker, MWAA vice president for customer and concession development .
The redevelopment remains ongoing at both airports with a new restaurant by Wolfgang Puck called “The Kitchen” coming to Dulles later this year and “Big Bowl,” a Thai and Chinese food restaurant coming to Reagan National.
Many of the new dining choices that have been added at both airports are local, including &pizza, District Chophouse, Chef Geoff, Ben’s Chili Bowl, Chef Mike Isabella’s Kapnos Taverna and Taylor Gourmet.
Travelers can search for Dulles retailers and restaurants by concourse here, and for retailers and restaurants by terminal at Reagan National here.
MWAA officials tell WTOP that the restaurants and retailers at Dulles and Reagan National employ more than 3,000 people.
