Boise Airport goes hyperlocal

BOISE (AP) - The largest airport in the state is heading in a different direction - to the North End and Downtown Boise, mostly.

Under a new set of contracts, the Boise Airport is set to undergo a transformation. It is replacing almost all of its eateries and shops for the first time in a decade.

The $5.6 million project - paid for by the concession owners - will start this fall and will take about eight months to complete.

When it's finished, the airport will look a lot more like Boise.

Travelers touching down in the city will be greeted by local eateries such as Bardenay Restaurant and Distillery, Parilla Grill and 13th Street Grill.

Locals catching an early morning flight will be able to grab a cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich from Big City Coffee, which is moving into a former Moxie Java shop.

Big City will bake goodies in a new on-site bakery and pour coffee roasted by Doma Coffee in Post Falls.

"It's all kind of overwhelming when you think about it," said Sarah Fendley, who owns the Big City restaurant and cafe in Boise's Linen District.

Opening a miniature version of the bakery and cafe at the airport made sense, she said.

Since she opened Big City Coffee 14 years ago, customers have often stopped in to pick up a special order of "sunrise" muffins or cherry-pie scones on the way to the airport.

"I think it's great," she said. "I am really, really excited to be involved with Bardenay and Parilla. I think it just brings us up to the next level."

The restaurants are working with Delaware North Cos., the contractor chosen by the city of Boise to manage food and drink at the airport. Delaware North plans to use local products wherever it can, including:

* Beer from Sockeye Brewing and Crooked Fence Brewing Co.

* Wine from Cinder Wines.

* Coffee from Flying M.

* Pastries and breads from Zeppole Baking Co.

The stores are working with Paradies-Taters, the airport's master concessionaire for shopping. Paradies-Taters wants to localize the airport's news stands and gift shops to include an Idaho Statesman store, a new CNBC Smartshop and an "It's a Boise Thing" store.

Paradies-Taters also will partner with:

* The River 94.9 FM on local artist appearances.

* Boise State University for T-shirts that currently are sold only at Bronco Shops.

* Boise Co-op on sandwiches, salads and other grab-and-go foods.

"We haven't had a partnership like this before, but this is an awesome way for us to offer a taste of the Co-op" beyond the walls of the North End store, said Shannon McGuire, marketing and outreach manager.

The Co-op's house-made deli foods - wraps, sandwiches, salads - will be for sale in Boise Co-op cases at a few stores in the airport starting as early as November, she said.

McGuire said she hopes that the transformation "gives travelers coming to or through Boise a taste of what the community is about, what we have to offer and that local flair."