If travelers had their way, they could pass the time at Denver International Airport sipping a Starbucks latte, eating Cold Stone Creamery ice cream and buying books at Tattered Cover.
In a survey commissioned by DIA, travelers named those stores as places they would be most likely to shop. They also gave low scores to the airport’s retail and restaurant offerings.
DIA’s first Starbucks is scheduled to open in April on Concourse B, but no Cold Stones or Tattered Covers are planned for the near future.
Michael Fitzgerald, Cold Stone Creamery’s Colorado-area developer, said he hopes to open one there as early as next year. Joyce Meskis, owner of the Tattered Cover, is not actively considering an airport location.
“Who knows? There might be an opportunity to think about a concept that might work in the future,” Meskis said.
“I think our clientele feels that we’re very much part of the community, and that goes hand-in-hand with being the gateway to the city through one of its transportation hubs,” Meskis said.
Still, she said, “When people think of the Tattered Cover, they are generally thinking of a larger footprint than airport stores can manage.”
Travelers through DIA are generally happy with the in-terminal train and airport facilities but gave lower scores for concessions and seating comfort in gate areas.
DIA’s overall score put it close to those of the nation’s best large airports. Of Denver-area residents surveyed, 95 percent said they were “proud” of DIA and its reflection on their hometown.
“With all of the controversy of its opening, being the butt of late-night talk shows, this really speaks to what we’ve been able to accomplish,” said DIA spokesman Steve Snyder.
“In most other major-market airports, you ask that of regional residents and they laugh at you – basically, ‘Are you kidding me?”‘ said Ira Weinstein, president of Airport Interviewing and Research.
Travelers gave the lowest scores in the concessions area to the selection and variety of shops, variety of merchandise and menu items, high-quality food and beverage and healthy choices. They gave higher ratings to signs, neat and clean areas, convenient locations, fast service and staff.
“There is certainly some positive news here, but we see room for improvement as well,” DIA manager Turner West said in a written statement. “This gives us a great tool to move forward with some exciting new concepts.”
DIA property manager Pete Gingras said the airport plans to reach out to businesses and is preparing a concessions guide booklet for travelers.
The survey will be repeated quarterly.
Staff writer Kelly Yamanouchi can be reached at 303-954-1488 or kyamanouchi@denverpost.com.
