HSV ushering in comprehensive upgrade in food, beverage, and retail
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — Major updates are in the works for Huntsville International Airport (HSV), and if you’ve traveled recently, you’ve seen hints of what is to come. Offerings include a Starbucks, plus a full-service restaurant and bar, a quick-service food option, and a health-consciouseatery.
Travelers can look forward to a new pizza bar, Interstellar Pizza, serving up made-to-order pizza and draft beer. This eatery, and Starbucks, should be open by May of this year.
Later in the year, Rocket City Bar & Grill will offer a full menu prepared in a brand-new kitchen, scheduled to open in October. Rocket City Express will offer quick-service, grab-and-go options. Meanwhile, Sambazon will offer health-conscious signature acai bowls.
A phased plan means fresh food and beverages will be available throughout construction.
Additionally, new food and beverage options will be offered adjacent to the public waiting area in a long-desired pre-security coffee shop. New sundry/souvenir shops will occupy the existing retail facilities, with both pre-security and post-security shopping undergoing complete renovation to create bright, open spaces. There are plans to offer more local products in these retail spaces as well.
Tailwind Hospitality, headquartered in Wilmington, NC, will oversee airport concessions for the next 10 years. It is a leading food, beverage, and retail airport and transit station concessionaire to 59 U.S. locations.
“At Huntsville International, we know that our customers want to be able to enjoy their favorite food and beverages while in their favorite airport, and with Tailwind Hospitality as our concessions partner, we are able to begin providing updated, upscale amenities within months,” said Butch Roberts, Huntsville International Airport CEO.
“Tailwind celebrates the communities in which we are located by prioritizing the sourcing of local goods,” said Tailwind CEO Jeff Switzer. “We strive to give a sense of place. We really want to work collaboratively with the Airport to represent Huntsville and north Alabama properly. Huntsville is a smart community, and we look forward to becoming a part of it.”
HSV was voted #1 Best Small Airport in the U.S. in 2020 and 2024 and serves more than 1.47 million passengers annually. In fact, it hit its record by October of last year. It now offers nonstop flights to 15 destinations with nonstop flights to New York City (LGA) beginning mid-April.