CA One opts for local colour at new Detroit terminal

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US airport retailer and food services operator CA Services is set to be the main retailer of the new McNamara (formerly Midfield) terminal at Detroit's Metropolitan Wayne County airport, due to have its grand opening on February 24.

Final touches are being completed at the McNamara terminal building, which is approximately 2m sq ft (190,000sq m) in size with 125,000sq ft (11,617sq m) of retailing among 85 shops and food & beverage locations. An aerial tram (pictured) will move passengers to a central court of shops. Northwest Airlines will be the primary user of the terminal which will be designated the Northwest WorldGateway.

The project began almost two years ago, when CA One Services won the bid for the prime speciality retail concession. CA One and its partners are investing more than $3m at the airport under the terms of the five-year contract.

Giving travellers a taste of the city is the strength of the "Gateway Program", CA One Services' innovative concession format that transforms airports into microcosms of any city; incorporating popular destination culture. At Detroit, CA One negotiated a licence agreement with Universal Music Group for the Motown Music Revue store. The Henry Ford Museum, a leading tourist attraction, will also have a store in the CA One retail area featuring gifts and crafts from the Museum. The Detroit Institute of Arts will open its third location at the airport. Other retail locations will include a local flower store Terry's Enchanted Garden, Michigania, and hand-made confectionery company Gayle's Chocolates. CA One will also operate five news and bookstores as http://www.news.detroit and http://www.news-gifts.detroit

CA One Services general manager at the new terminal, Gary Hagen, commented: "All of the businesses we are partnering with have been Detroit mainstays for years. They are all local success stories."

CA One president Chuck Moran, added: "Our Gateway Program focuses on bringing to the airport environment a flavour of the local community.  We think our selection of businesses will offer travellers a vital reflection of the surrounding culture and society that is Detroit."

Other retailers in the terminal include Duty Free Americas, Monarch Gift Shop and Pangborn Designs (home accessories). Paradies Metro Ventures will operate five DTW Press stores, two Heritage Books stores, plus gift outlets KidZoo, Michigan Marketplace, DTW Express, DTW Travel Mart, Automobilia, a PGA Tour golf shop, Brooks Brothers and Ty-rrific.