Concept plans for Punta Gorda Airport’s $43 million expansion could include a Wolfgang Puck restaurant at Bailey Terminal, Charlotte County Airport Authority officials revealed during an Aug. 1 workshop.
The airport is working through its current concessionaire, Faber, Coe & Gregg, which connected the airport authority with Wolfgang Puck Worldwide Inc. to discuss concepts for a full-service restaurant.
“We’re working with our current vendor for news and gifts and food, and they have brought to us a Wolfgang Puck design,” said Authority CEO James W. Parish. “We met with the Wolfgang Puck developer yesterday (who’s) very excited. He’s just finishing Shanghai, and he’s going to move straight to Punta Gorda.”
Renderings of what a Wolfgang Puck restaurant might look like were revealed during the presentation along with a new Dunkin’ to be located where the existing bar is now.
Dunkin’ also will have a small market serving the south side of the terminal, Parish said.
When asked by CCAA member Kathleen Coppola about funding for the Dunkin’ concession, Parish said, “anything they’ve done to date they paid for themselves.”
In addition to the sit-down restaurant, a to-go area to pick up food will be located after passengers pass through security screening. The Market at PGD area would include grab-n-go foods and a bar.
A spokesperson for the airport authority said while these concessions are still in the conceptual phase, “we have gotten positive feedback, so we plan to move forward with further development.”
The terminal will add 51,800 square feet and remodel another 22,000 square feet for the existing terminal. In addition, construction is underway on a new baggage system. More restroom stalls will be added to expanded restrooms.
Completion of the expansion is targeted for May 2027.
Parish noted that since passengers have been asked to arrive earlier, the new concessions will give them time to relax and spend money prior to their flights.
“The open concept won’t be enclosed as it currently is,” and passengers will be able to access it from the gate area, as well as from the circulation area, Parish said.
The airport authority projects 1.9 million passengers will pass through PGD in 2025, which is equal to the passenger total from last year. The agency has a goal of reaching 2 million passengers.
