SOUTH BEND, Ind. --The Saint Joseph County Airport Authority Board approved a new ‘master concessionaire" contract on Thursday.
The airport said its recent growth created an opportunity to reimagine and expand its concessions offerings.
Christine Bader tells ABC57 she travels out of the South Bend International Airport every week.
“The current concessions are fine. It's just, they're limited, you know, there's only one, so there are long lines and that, and I get that. But you know they do good service, and you know they're good for what you want in the morning and even afternoon,” said Bader.
She also thinks it's important to see local brands and companies in the airport.
Sky Dine is the new master concessionaire at the South Bend International Airport, effective June 1st, 2026.
Julie Curtis, SBN’s Vice President of Marketing and Air Service development, says Sky Dine specializes in similar-sized airports around the country.
“We are the first and last impression of the community. It was very important for us to retain a strong local feel, but also bring in national brands as well,” said Curtis.
Initial renderings show Dunkin Donuts, Jimmy John’s and South Bend Restaurant, ‘The Lauber’ as concepts coming under Sky Dine.
Riley Ellingsen works with the Laubers’ hospitality company, Earnest Hospitality.
“We felt like it would be kind of a welcome sight when you get off your plane at the airport to see a familiar brand there, and a brand that's, you know, been in the South Bend community since the 1800s with the J.C. & Lauber company, before the restaurant came to be,” said Ellingsen.
Ellingson says it is a licensing agreement with Sky Dine, so it will operate the restaurant under their brand.
He says while Sky Dine will operate the restaurant, they will be in charge of overseeing quality, and you can expect to see a lot of the Lauber staples on the menu.
Curtis says the airport will expand retail offerings as well.
“Post security, where the Bar Fly is, that will be expanded. It will be, The Lauber will be operating that. They will be having full service dining. So that is something that doesn't exist today, where you'll be able to actually sit down and get waited on. They will also be adding a Dunkin' Donuts and a Jimmy John's further down the concourse. There is also going to be another bar space in between gates six and seven that doesn't exist today. They're also going to be expanding the retail offerings with an additional grab and go area where people will be able to use self-checkout,” said Curtis
Curtis says as the airport has grown, passengers need more options and places to get things.
“We've heard from people, you know, ‘we just wanted to grab a bottle of water, and the line was too long,’ So, you know, they passed it on by. So these additional offerings is in line with the growth that we're seeing,” said Curtis.
ABC57’S Jordan Tolbert asked Curtis about the bid process.
“So, we were looking for a mix of local and national brands. We looked at financial investment. We looked at passenger flow. We looked at, you know, how the space could be reimagined and reused. The traveler journey is very different than what it used to be,” said Curtis.
Curtis says build-outs will start soon in areas that are not being used right now, and there won't be a time without concession availability.
Curtis says there will be some additional construction, like the Bar Fly transitioning into The Lauber. Some construction will start after June 1 when Sky Dine is set to take over.
ABC57 was told that all the current airport concessions are under the South Bend Chocolate Company and the airport said it is thankful for the long-time partnership.
The South Bend Chocolate Company filed a formal protest regarding the Airport concession award.
South Bend Chocolate Company’s full statement sent to ABC57 News on Thursday, February 26th is below:
“The South Bend Chocolate Company has formally filed a protest concerning the South Bend International Airport’s decision to award its food and beverage concession contract to a large out-of-state corporation.
For more than three decades, South Bend Chocolate Company has operated as a locally owned, female-owned manufacturer employing over 400 individuals and investing more than $25 million in facilities located at the end of the airport runway. Airport-related revenue represents a substantial and materially significant percentage of our company’s total sales. This procurement decision therefore carries direct consequences for local jobs, local manufacturing, and the reinvestment of revenue within the South Bend community.
Our submitted proposal was comprehensive, financially rigorous, and directly aligned with the Airport Authority’s stated objectives. It included three structured revenue models projecting 150%, 225%, and 400% increases in concession performance. Based on passenger growth of 47% over the past decade, our analysis demonstrated that concession revenue could reach 35% of total airport operating revenue within ten years — this revenue is unprecedented at any North American airport.
By contrast, awarding this contract to a large out-of-state corporation redirects a significant economic opportunity away from a local employer whose revenues, payroll, capital investments, and tax contributions remain in this region. The economic impact of this decision extends beyond a concession agreement; it affects hundreds of local families and the broader regional economy.
No other privately owned company so visibly carries the name, manufacturing base, workforce, and visitor experience of South Bend as The South Bend Chocolate Company. As a locally headquartered manufacturer and long-standing airport partner, we believe the regional economic implications of this award warrant heightened scrutiny.
Our protest specifically concerns the transparency, consistency, and procedural integrity of the evaluation process. Despite formal written requests, we have not received the scoring breakdowns, comparative evaluations, or supporting documentation necessary to verify that the award decision complied with all applicable procurement standards and governing requirements.
Public procurement decisions must be fair, fully documented, and capable of withstanding both legal and public examination. We respectfully request the immediate disclosure of the evaluation materials and confirm that all statutory and procedural obligations were met.
We remain committed to serving the traveling public and to supporting the continued growth of South Bend International Airport. At the same time, we will take all appropriate steps to ensure that this process is transparent, lawful, and economically responsible.”