Mattison's opens at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

A new restaurant has opened in the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. Past security, Mattison’s City Grille is now welcoming diners to its location in Terminal B.

Mattison’s City Grille also has locations on Lemon Avenue in downtown Sarasota and on Riverfront Boulevard at the Bradenton Riverwalk. Mattison’s Restaurant Group operates Mattison’s Forty-One and Mattison’s Catering on South Tamiami Trail, too. The eateries are known for their steak and seafood dishes and full bar.

According to SRQ, Mattison’s City Grille opened its airport location June 16.

The new restaurant is among a variety of updates transforming Terminal B:

• Starbucks opened its newly renovated space along the concourse in May.
• Salt & Tide bar also began welcoming customers this spring.
• The Salty Key is coming soon to the end of the concourse by gates B9 to B14.
• Motorworks Brewing will replace the temporary bar between gates B4 and B6.
• Wahlburgers will replace what is now Tap & Pour restaurant and bar.
• Across the walkway, Huey Magoo’s will replace what was the Kona Bar.

Photo by Elizabeth King

Outside security, changes are underway as well. The new Suncoast Trading & Bar is in a space that was previously part of Dewar’s Clubhouse, which has since downsized. The remainder of the area around the fountain will be reconfigured into smaller shops.

The shifts are designed to align supply with demand, SRQ President and CEO Rick Piccolo previously told the Business Observer, noting the airport was built before TSA checkpoints were introduced.

“That's part of what we need to correct, to make it smaller pre-security, because there's not that level of demand there, and more robust post-security, because that's where the demand is,” Piccolo said.

Photo by Elizabeth King

The total investment in the changes in Concourse B and the main terminal will be $15 million to $16 million. The costs are borne by the master concessionaires, who bid for the right to do business at the airport. Those entities take all the financial risks; contract with the restaurants, bars and retailers; and pay the airport a negotiated portion of the revenues.

SSP America and Paradies Lagardére are the concessionaires, and part of their agreement with the Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority was that they would focus on bringing in local food and drink options.

“We wanted to be sure to bring some local businesses with recognizable names for our customers to enjoy," Piccolo said, "and then maybe [travelers] will go visit them while they are staying here."

Andrew Warfield contributed to this article. This article originally appeared on sister site BusinessObserverFL.com.