
Ahead of terminal expansion, Fort Worth businesses find success in DFW Airport
Ampersand’s Dallas Fort Worth International Airport location opened in April. (Courtesy photo | DFW Airport)
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Toan Luong considers himself fortunate.
When Ampersand opened its doors in 2017, the idea of a location at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport was just a dream. Nine months into the business venture, the company began formulating ideas about expansion, including a possible airport terminal location, said Luong, Ampersand’s co-owner and CEO.
Seven years later, the Fort Worth-based coffee shop and bar’s dream was realized at the grand opening of its Terminal C location in May.
Ampersand is part of a growing trend of Fort Worth businesses opening inside the airport. Already, nearly a dozen Tarrant County businesses have set up shop there. Ken Buchanan, DFW Airport’s executive vice president of customer experience and revenue management, said the airport tries to have a variety of stores while balancing local and national concepts.
“The airport really took a risk on us, and we really have to give some credit back to them,” Luong said.
Fort Worth chef and restaurateur Tim Love opened his burger joint Love Shack in Terminal E around 2006.
“I knew what was at DFW Airport. At the time, it wasn’t a ton of really great and fun things,” Love said. “And so, I thought it’d be a great fit for not only DFW but also good for our business here in Fort Worth.”
Two travelers walk toward Tim Love’s Love Shack in Terminal E. (Courtesy photo | DFW Airport)
Since then, DFW Airport has grown significantly. The airport received over 81 million passengers in 2023 and ranked third that year among other airports internationally in terms of passengers and aircraft movements, according to data from Airports Council International.
Business was slow at the airport Love Shack location early on, but the restaurant has seen more success as Terminal E has grown busier.
“Because of the type of person I am, we could always do better, don’t get me wrong. But we do enjoy the success of it,” Love said, with a chuckle.
DFW Airport’s growth includes creation of the new Terminal F and reconstruction on Terminal C. The airport’s appetite for new businesses is growing, too.
The airport opened applications for 17 retail stores and 17 food and beverage outlets May 13. Officials describe it as the largest concession opportunity for the airport since Terminal D’s opening in 2005. The application closes Aug. 12.
This round is focused on attracting disadvantaged companies, specifically minority- and women-owned businesses, said Buchanan, an airport executive.
In 2023, the airport sought concessionaires in Terminal A and at high gates in Terminal C, with a focus on small businesses. One of those additions to Terminal A was The Bridge Travel Essential Store, a collaboration between nonprofits and local businesses, including Fort Worth-based Black Coffee.
The application process is designed to be competitive and attract both local and national businesses, Buchanan said.
Luong and Love are involved in the new application process.
Luong is currently working with the airport to help businesses from Tarrant County submit proposals.
“It’s my mission right now to help out small businesses just like my own, and specifically, small businesses from Fort Worth,” Luong said.
Love plans on applying in this round of proposals and is currently pitching two or three restaurant concepts for Terminal F.
Landing at the airport was by no means easy for Luong. The pandemic and a commitment to being completely self-funded made the seven-year journey longer than those of other businesses that applied. Ampersand was in competition with national brands for the location, including Starbucks, Peet’s Coffee and Dunkin’ Donuts.
Costs were a challenge, too. The final cost for the airport location was about $2.3 million, significantly more than the street-side locations, despite being half the size, Luong said.
Despite the hurdles, Luong said the airport location has been a success.
“We’re definitely changing up the game,” Luong said.
Ismael M. Belkoura is a reporting fellow for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at ismael.belkoura@fortworthreport.org. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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