Mayor Lori E Lightfoot and the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) have taken part in a ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of The Orange Line restaurant.
Named after the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) train line that connects the airport to the Loop, The Orange Line offers tacos, burgers, buffalo chicken mac and cheese, truffle fries, salads, and more. The restaurant, located in Concourse B near Gate B21, was developed by SSP America’s local joint venture team in partnership with Midway Partnership, the airport’s concession developer. The Orange Line is open from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm daily and offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a full bar.
“The Orange Line is the latest concept to join the SSP America portfolio and offers passengers a contemporary vibe and celebrates Chi-town menu favorites,” said Bob Stanton, vice president of business development for SSP America. “Our team is proud to be a member of the airport community and continue our efforts to create career and business opportunities for the City’s residents. Special thanks to our local joint venture partners who have worked collaboratively with us to bring this concept to life and create a ‘taste of place’ for travellers.”
The modernisation of Midway
The new restaurant is the latest addition via the Concessions Redevelopment Program and a major milestone in the modernisation of Midway International Airport.
Its opening is part of the $75m investment to renovate and expand concessions at Midway under the $400m Midway Modernization Program (MMP), the largest capital improvement project at Midway in more than 20 years.
The first phase of Midway’s Concessions Redevelopment Program, which overhauled the entire concessions area to make room for new and improved options, is now complete. The second phase will add 26,000sq ft of concessions.
There are currently 61 food, beverage, retail, and vending concessions locations at Midway. Nine new food and beverage concessions and eight new retail locations are expected to open in 2023.
Since the Midway Modernization Program began in 2017, the CDA has constructed a new 80,000sq ft security pavilion over Cicero Avenue that provides additional TSA checkpoints for improved throughput. Other improvements have included upgrades to the Terminal Parking Garage, a new inline baggage handling system for carry-on bags, and dozens of infrastructure improvements that allow for better passenger flow. The Concessions Redevelopment Program is the final major component of the MMP.
Image: Chicago Department of Aviation
