Not content to rest on its laurels as the airport with the best dining, Denver International Airport is pushing to get itself a replica of Denver Central Market.
And while that's in the works, the airport today celebrated the opening of Roasting Plant Coffee at the rail station.
Airport concessions operator Delaware North , along with Trugoy and Optimal Concessions, has put in a request to take over a 4,090-square-foot space in Concourse A.
The offerings there would be similar to those in the relatively new River North market, including Curio, Vero Italian and SK Provisions, according to Heath Montgomery, DIA spokesman. It would also feature conveyor-belt sushi restaurant Sushi-Rama. (The original Sushi-Rama is next door to Central Market. Both are projects from chef-restaurateur Jeff Osaka.)
"Denver has amazing food scene," Montgomery told Denverite. "We are very intentionally replicating that at the airport."
He also said there will be a fifth vendor inside DIA's Central Market, but was unsure what it was.
Update: The fifth business is called The Charcuertie.
The Business, Arts, Workforce and Aeronautical Services Committee will discuss the proposal Wednesday at 1 p.m., before it can be sent to City Council. If the request is approved and all goes according to plan, the market could open in DIA in about a year (though Montgomery says that's a rough estimate).
And coffee:
Today, the airport took another step in its recent push to be everyone's favorite airport. Roasting Plant Coffee, which already has locations in New York City, Detroit and Minneapolis, is officially up and running where you catch the train.
The shop boasts a Javabot, which roasts and brews coffee to-order in about one minute.
It sounds pretty fancy:
"For many airport travelers, having convenient access to a high-quality cup of coffee on the go is one of the most important amenities,” airport CEO Kim Day said in a statement.
“The Roasting Plant will add to our lineup of coffee options and provide fresh beverages in an innovative setting that is the first of its kind in Denver. We think passengers will very much enjoy both the coffee and the captivating way their drinks are made.”
Roasting Plant Coffee is serving fresh coffee-shop food, too, including pastries, salads and sandwiches. It's located on the west side of the escalators near the RTD ticketing kiosks and will be open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Note: Because of an error in a press release, an earlier version of this article attributed a quote to Kim Day that did not come from Kim Day. It has been replaced with Day's actual statement.
