Airport Experience® News - Customer Service Issue 2024

CONCESSIONS

WITH A CAUSE Furthering The Sense Of Place, Some Concessions Have Advocacy Role For the past several years, most North American airports have sought to bring a “sense of place” to their concessions programs. But increasingly, showcasing the local community also means giving back, with individual concepts that incorporate local community outreach and advocacy. For over a decade, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has partnered with concessionaire Areas USA and Los Angeles not-for-profit Homeboy Industries to operate the Homeboy Cafe. A coffee shop, bakery and all-day eatery serving chef-inspired fare provided by Homeboy Industries, Homeboy Cafe has been open since 2013 in Terminal 4 before moving to its current home in Terminal 3 in partnership with Unibail Rodamco Westfield (URW). BY SARAH BELING

Above: Homeboy Cafe at Los Angeles International Airport has ties to Homeboy Industries, which offers advocacy, career training and employment to previously incarcerated and formerly gang-involved individuals. Operator Areas USA contributes a percentage of its revenue to the non-profit organization.

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AX NEWS OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2024