Why Airports are Full of “Fake” Restaurants

During Jim Crow south, airport restaurants had to allow people of color to eat in the restaurants because airports are on federal, not state, property. I remember going to the airport restaurant in Jackson, Mississippi as a child for special occasions. It was exciting seeing the planes while having a fine dining experience.

I’ve noticed that gradually, airports have come to resemble shopping malls. There seems to even be more non-food related retail stores.

I used to work at the airport at a coffee shop. Behind our coffee shop was a prep kitchen that made pre wrapped sandwiches for about 11 different “restaurants” the parent company owned. The ladies would just stick different stickers on each package, but it was all the same sandwiches

I do like my airport PDX. One more important rule they have is that the businesses can't upcharge. They have to have the same prices inside the airport as they do outside of it.

What I've also seen helps these Fake restaurants in being managed by the same company is they can share kitchen space. You can have 2-3 facades that all share a back hallway so all back of house if operated as if it's a single location. The menus may also be more similar than not, just different drinks and decor. It's smart but honestly so lifeless feeling. I truly hate seeing the HMS host plaque on the entrance to these places, knowing I'm going to get the same generic mediocre experience as the next place.

Lol, I work at HMShost in The Netherlands, it sometimes feels like we have a monopoly over the whole airport here. 😵‍💫

When working in Singapore, it became apparent that the very well developed Changi airport was a local destination especially for Sunday family outings. Nice work here.

thank you for making a reasonably short video on youtube. this did not need to be 25 minutes long

with the exception of Einstein Bros. and Starbucks, every single food option at Austin Bergstrom is a local spot originally. always thought that was pretty neat!

There are airport-specific franchises as well. I forget the name of it but there's an Irish pub chain around the world that only exists in international airports.

HMS Host also operates “fake” restaurants along the Pennsylvania Turnpike, so I assume this business model also works on other toll highways for similar reasons.

$18 for a water and a bagel. These places are gouging customers.

It's like the bars and "night clubs" in hotel lobbies. Especially, ironically, in airport hotels. They always had double entendre names blending the transient nature of travel and extra marital affairs, but they were usually operated by either contract food service or Marriott Host or the other hotel chain's food service arm. Scandals, Risque, Whispers, etc. Those night clubs were not part of some chain. They did it with their cafes and restaurants and breakfast bars, too. Next thing you're going to tell me, the Mexican restaurant at epcot center was not founded by a hard working Mexican immigrant and the Chinese place in times square wasn't founded by a guy from beijing.

I have done commercial kitchen equipment repair for 40+ years .... working at Houston airports have given me great insights to restaurants located therein. Dont. Bring your own munchies, eat before you fly, plan your meals after you get to your destination. Dont eat at airport concessions. You'll be lots better off.....

I typically shy away from known franchise locations in airports because I want to support small local businesses, this will change my way of thinking.

Regarding the “thanksgiving at the airport” comment: some of the best diners in the country are at small municipal airports in neighborhoods around the country. If you live near one or more small airports, check if they have an “airport cafe” and head over. They’re not behind any security or other barriers, they’re just regular diners, at an airport.

Fascinating business and great reporting. I never thought twice about the “hms host” on all my expense report receipts. I am gonna need a follow up of your best and worst menu items from franchises, generic, and local airport eateries 🙏🏼 🍻🌮

Thank you for answering a question I’ve always had but literally never thought to ask

Loved watching this. I used to love EWR Terminal C because of all the terminals, they went from generic to chain restaurant heaven. One of my biggest gripes with current day EWR Terminal C is that 90% of the franchises have left, and we're back with the generic restaurants and iPad restaurants that I find less enjoyable and more expensive. Now I make a point to eat before I get to the airport. This is why I actually look forward to flying out of airports like ATL and DFW, haha.

Franchise like KFC or Mcdonald can't simply get profit from the airport since they can't simply just upselling big mac because everyone knows how much big mac prices are. While "generic restaurant" can charge you any price, no wonder why simple sandwich in "new york deli" could cost $10 on airport while it usually cost $3 on your local deli.