The Detroit News

Detroit Metro is getting new stores, restaurants and other businesses. See which ones

Detroit Metro is getting new stores, restaurants and other businesses. See which ones
July 31, 2024

The Wayne County Airport Authority said Monday that 20 new businesses will open in the McNamara Terminal at Detroit Metro Airport starting next year.

According to a news release, the 20 businesses include 12 retail shops, six restaurants and two video game lounges that will open as current concessions contracts expire.

The announcement comes after the airport launched the Small Business Operators Arriving Ready program in February to aid in finding Michigan-based small businesses with “specialty retail items” that could stand alone in a 320-square-foot space at the terminal.

“DTW is already the number one ranked mega airport in North America,” Chad Newton, the Wayne County Airport Authority’s CEO, said in the release. “These additions, with their Detroit-centric branding, will help us maintain our position among the top airports in the country, as we take Detroit to the world and bring the world to Detroit.”

Paradies Lagardère, Delaware North, WH Smith North America/The Marshall Retail Group and Gameway Inc. will operate the new concessions and invest a combined $18.8 million in capital improvements for their respective spaces.

These are the new businesses coming to DTW:

  • 313 Exchange/Dylan’s Candy Bar: A Michigan-inspired news and convenience store featuring locally crafted artisanal gifts and gourmet products. Inside 313 Exchange, customers will find Dylan’s Candy Bar for a store within a store feature.
  • Corktown Place: Named after Detroit’s oldest neighborhood, the Corktown Place will offer news and convenience items. Customers will also find a Pure Michigan boutique within Corktown Place featuring local and Michigan-based brands like Sanders Candy, Cherry Republic and Original Mackinac Island Fudge Co.
  • Detroit-VS-Everybody: Offering news and convenience items and highlighting the Detroit-born and internationally known Detroit-VS-Everybody brand, DVE will feature Pop Daddy Snacks, Creative State Apparel, Detroit Streetwear, Inspire Michigan, Made in Detroit, Wetroit, Great Lakes Proud, Kalamazoo Candle Company, STP Distributing, Diamonds Body Care and Scene Happy among other local and Michigan-based brands.
  • Eastside Golf: A golf lifestyle apparel brand for golf professionals, celebrities, fashion influencers and professional athletes. The space will include custom-commissioned murals by local artists.
  • Hip & Humble: This specialty retail space will offer a variety of local and nationally branded fashions, home and personal products with eclectic designs and a locally themed mural.
  • iStore Express: This retail space will meet traveler needs by offering a wide selection of mobile products from Apple, Bose, Beats, JBL and Skullcandy among others.
  • Johnston & Murphy: The national clothing brand offering a wide assortment of business and business casual shoes, apparel and accessories for men and women will move to a new location in the McNamara Terminal.
  • Motor City Essentials: Named after one of Detroit’s iconic nicknames, the Motor City Essentials travel store space will offer news and convenience items as well as snacks, drinks, prepared meals, local artisan treats, travel accessories, tech products, souvenirs and more.

Corktown Place and Motown’s Greatest Hits Travel Shop will be among the first retail locations to open in 2025 and other concessions will begin operations over the next two years.

The six new restaurants coming are scheduled to open in 2025 too. They are:

  • 7greens: A health-forward café born in the Motor City. Michigan native Kelly Schaefer founded 7greens, which focuses on high-quality, locally sourced ingredients and chef-inspired recipes.
  • Born in Detroit Kitchen + Bar: Showcasing Detroit’s food and beverage scene, Born in Detroit Kitchen + Bar features retail items from local retailer Born in Detroit and is co-branded with the Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Company.
  • Cask & Craft Local Spirits + Bites: With Valentine Distilling Co. and Detroit City Distillery leading the way, Cask & Craft will offer DTW travelers an experiential and beverage-forward experience.
  • Dunkin’: Dunkin’ will be managed by The OM Group, Delaware North’s local operator, which is the largest and fastest growing Dunkin’/Baskin Robbins franchisee network in Michigan.
  • Wahlburgers: Wahlburgers is owned by the Wahlberg brothers and known for its chef-driven burgers.

“These new concepts underscore our dedication to providing an exceptional guest-centric experience while highlighting the remarkable local talent and the rich, diverse culture of Detroit’s business and culinary scene,” Scott Socha, group president of Delaware North’s travel business which will operate the new restaurants, said in the release.

Mark Wahlberg, actor and co-owner of Wahlburgers, said in the release that Detroit is like “a second home.”

“Joining the DTW airport is an incredible honor, allowing us to share our signature burgers and uphold our brand pillars of great food, shared experiences and community giving,” he said. “We can’t wait to bring a taste of our family-inspired recipes to DTW airport.”

These are the retail stores and gaming lounges joining DTW:

  • Fuel Travel Shop: Offering news and convenience items, Fuel Travel Shop will feature Michigan-branded products like Zingerman’s, Motor City Popcorn, Garsnett Beacon Candles, Tru Royal Universe, Detroit Originals and more.
  • iStore: A retail shop equipped with interactive displays featuring product testing and the latest brands, as well as more than 60 company-branded products from Apple, Bose, Beats, JBL and Skullcandy.
  • Michigan Makers: This unique retail shop will showcase the work of some of Michigan’s finest artisans to create a one-of-a-kind shopping experience made expressly for DTW travelers. Michigan Makers will feature products from local artists and vendors and highlight merchandise from artists on a rotating basis.
  • Motown Greatest Hits Travel Shop: This space will offer news and convenience items as well as an in-store shop featuring Motown-themed gifts and collectibles and local brands such as Bon Bon Bon and Detroit is the New Black.
  • Gameway “Classic” Lounge: The “Classic” lounge will likely offer 12 gaming stations on the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 platforms and five stations for PC gaming. The “Classic” lounge will also offer pre-packaged snacks and bottled nonalcoholic beverages.
  • Gameway “Ultra” Lounge: The “Ultra” lounge is expected to offer 10 gaming stations for the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 platforms, five stations for PC gaming and six stations dedicated to popular retro games. The “Ultra” lounge will also offer canned alcoholic beverages in addition to bottled nonalcoholic beverages and prepackaged snacks.

The two new gaming lounges come from Gameway Inc. which is the only airport gaming company in the U.S., Emma Walbridge, the company’s founder, said in the release.

“Detroit has an amazing community of passionate gamers, which makes this market a perfect fit for our newest locations. Our premium video game lounges will offer everything from the latest consoles like PS5 and Xbox Series X, high-end gaming PCs, to old-school classics on the original NES/SNES all while sitting on comfy seats and enjoying your favorite snacks and drinks,” Walbridge said.