Shreveport travelers got a surprise Sunday morning when two new restaurants were open for travelers. A Shreveport favorite and an international brand.
On July 28, the Shreveport Regional Airport welcomed Tacomania and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.
“We are very excited that two of our new restaurants have opened today,” said Mark Crawford, Shreveport Airport Authority Marketing and Public Relations Manager.
Tacomania is a Shreveport favorite that closed its doors in 2022 after more than 20 years of business. It was located on East Kings Highway and served authentic Mexican food.
This nostalgic restaurant has a new lease on life with a new location at the Shreveport Regional Airport. Crawford said, “we are always working to improve the customer experience here at the airport and offering a local favorite, like Tacomania is one of the ways we are able to do that.”
Crawford said that the airport has been working to bring Tacomania back since a year and a half ago. He said, “I was a frequent visitor of Tacomania and so I reached out to them and asked if they would be interested in partnering with our restaurant operator here at the airport.”
More: Just a few days left before Tacomania closes and yes, it’s being replaced with a Starbucks
The second restaurant that opened Sunday morning was The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf– a California-based coffee and tea shop that will offer travelers teas, coffee, pastries and sandwiches.
“Which is similar to Starbucks,” said Crawford.
He continued by saying, “The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is an international brand. There in 23 countries, more than 1,100 locations worldwide, and it’s the first time in the airports 72-year history there’s been a national or international brand inside.”
These two new restaurants are located in the TSA checkpoint atrium which was formerly the smaller restaurant and retail space. This area was once 3,000 square feet but has been renovated into a bright airy 6,000 square foot restaurant area.
Travelers can now enjoy their taste of Shreveport while watching the planes land.
Tacomania opens at 6 a.m. until the last flight departs and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf opens 30 minutes before the first departure– currently 4:30 a.m.
According to Crawford, the airport is working with TSA to opt into a program that would offer people who are not traveling a gate pass. This pass would allow people to go through the TSA checkpoint and eat at the new restaurants, greet people at the gate and walk their party to the gate.
Crawford said, “we are hopeful by the end of the year or early next year that will be ready to go.”
Read: New Shreveport Airport director: ‘This is my dream job.’ Get to know him here
Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Two new restaurants open in Shreveport Regional Airport. Tacomania
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