COOL CUISINE
Airport concessionaire introduces travelers to more local cuisine
Getting something good to eat as you are passing through an airport doesn’t have to be a dicey proposition.
In Oklahoma City, the concessionaire that operates restaurants at Will Rogers World Airport continues to add quality, local cuisine for the 3 million-plus travelers passing through the facility annually to enjoy.
Delaware North’s latest offering is a Coolgreens, which opened in the airport’s west concourse this week near gates passengers use to
board and deplane from American, United and Alaska Airlines flights.
Its arrival adds an interesting local fare for travelers to enjoy, said
Michael Moses, Delaware North’s general manager at the airport.
Plus, Moses said the restaurant gives travelers the ability to get food that’s both tasty and fresh.
“Travelers want fresh, healthy options at airports,” he said. “Although some of our other operations may offer them a salad, this is truly all fresh made and healthy. And it has got a great flavor, really.
“That’s something the airport has needed, and we feel it will really appeal to our travelers.”
Delaware North is operating the store through a licensing agreement with Coolgreens, which opened its first location in Nichols Hills in 2009.
An idea that makes sense
Coolgreens CEO Robert Lee said his firm’s agreement with Delaware North is the first of its type for the restaurant.
Lee said Coolgreens was thinking about offering franchises when Delaware North representatives approached the local eatery about a year ago to ask if it might obtain a license to operate one at Will Rogers.
The idea made sense, he said.
Lee noted Coolgreens’ founder, Tom Wolfe, a marathoner, had observed restaurants with concepts similar to Coolgreens in other parts of the country but hadn’t been able to find a restaurant like it in the Oklahoma City market.
Lee said he too had found Coolgreens to be a good option for eating out when he tried it shortly after the first store opened, and subsequently bought ownership in the company and joined its management team.
Since 2009, the restaurant has continued to grow, opening stores in north Oklahoma City, Edmond, downtown Oklahoma City and two in Norman.
Lee describes Coolgreens’ concept as a fresh, down-the-line restaurant where a customer can pick and choose greens, toppings and proteins to fit his or her dietary needs.
“I was attracted to the restaurant for the same reasons Wolfe created it,” Lee said. “I have to watch what I’m eating, and its tough trying to get what I need from a traditional restaurant that serves a meal that’s already made for you.”
On the menu
Angelo Cipollone, a district manager for Coolgreens, said the Delaware North operation at the airport offers customers the same menu as the restaurant’s other locations. Also, Moses said the airport Coolgreens will begin offering a breakfast menu in about a month.
But for now, the restaurant offers “build your own” salads and wraps starting from $7.70 that include greens, five toppings and a dressing. Customers can pay extra to add premium toppings and proteins, such as turkey, salmon, chicken, tuna, tofu or shrimp.
Coolgreens also offers nine signature salads, flatbreads, bowls that feature brown rice and quinoa, sandwiches, several kid meals, soups, other sides and a chocolate chip cookie as a desert. With the exception of one of the signature salads and one of the sandwiches, most of these items cost about $10 or less.
Lee said the store’s design when it comes to the preparation areas is similar to what Coolgreens has at its other locations.
However, because the restaurant operates inside the airport’s security zone, there are some modifications.
Knives — a major implement involved in preparing much of Coolgreens’ food — have to be attached to work stations, for example.
“In order to take a knife from this store, you’d have to drag a whole table away,” Lee said, laughing.
The airport store is operating this week under the watchful eyes of Coolgreens’ management, including Cipollone and others.
Lee said he expects to turn the store over to Delaware North to operate independently at the end of the week.
Moses said the airport Coolgreens will operate from about 4:30 a.m. to about 7 p.m. (or 30 minutes before the last departure) daily once its breakfast menu is added. Until then, the store will be opening about 10:30 a.m. daily.
He said Delaware North pursues agreements like the one it has made with Coolgreens because it likes to partner with local companies to strengthen its ties to the community.
“I live here,” he said. “My family and I have been eating at Coolgreens for a couple of years, and we love it.”
Travelers want fresh, healthy options at airports. Although some of our other operations may offer them a salad, this is truly all fresh made and healthy. And it has got a great flavor, really.”
Michael Moses
Delaware North’s general manager