PITTSBURGH – Pittsburgh’s food scene has gained national acclaim in recent years, including its tradition of piling fries and coleslaw high on a sandwich. Soon that iconic dish will be as near as your gate at Pittsburgh International Airport. Primanti Brothers Restaurant & Bar, inventor of the signature sandwich, will be opening its first airport location at Pittsburgh International Airport next spring. The new restaurant adds to the airport’s sense of place program and its focus on bringing in more local dining options.
Since 1933, Primanti Bros. has been a dining institution in Pittsburgh. Its Almost Famous sandwich, with fresh-cut fries stacked on top, put Pittsburgh on the map for culinary curiosities. With its hometown cues and classics on the menu, Primanti’s new airport location will be a standout in the Center Core, spanning more than 2,700 square feet of space. It will also remain true to its roots, a spinoff of the original Primanti Bros. in Pittsburgh’s historic Strip District.
“We’ve been doin’ this for 86 years,” said Toni Haggerty, long-time manager of Primanti Bros. original location. “And we’re going to keep doing the same thing now that we’re in the airport. Big sandwiches. Big drinks. The same attitude you’ve been getting from me since 1973. Oh, and breakfast. We’re serving up a great breakfast.”
“Passengers have been asking for an airport Primanti’s for years. We are so happy to partner with this iconic restaurant that reflects perhaps Pittsburgh’s best-known sandwich,” said Eric Sprys, Chief Commercial Officer, Allegheny County Airport Authority. “This is another piece of our sense of place initiative – to bring more of our region’s great food and culture into the terminal.”
The airport restaurant will also feature a full bar with a wide selection of draft and bottled beers and Primanti’s fabled cocktails.
“Primanti Bros. is a Pittsburgh legend,” says Ben Zandi, president and CEO of Fraport USA. “The brothers kick-started the food scene here by serving great food to hungry diners at a good price. We’re thrilled to bring this Pittsburgh giant to the airport.”
About Allegheny County Airport Authority
Allegheny County Airport Authority, which manages Pittsburgh International Airport and Allegheny County Airport, is committed to transforming Pittsburgh’s airports to reflect and serve the community, inspire the industry, and advance the region’s role as a world leader. Its 2017 Annual Report detailing growth and improved financial position can be found at www.flypittsburgh.com/AR17.
Pittsburgh International Airport serves nearly 9 million passengers annually on 17 carriers. Air Transport World named Pittsburgh International its 2017 Airport of the Year. Travel + Leisure and J.D. Power have again named Pittsburgh International a Top 10 Domestic Airport in 2018.
About Primanti Brothers
In 1933, Joe Primanti opened a lunch cart in Pittsburgh’s Strip District selling sandwiches to the hungry truckers who were coming and going at all times of the night. Encouraged by sales and positive feedback, Joe expanded to a small storefront where he was joined by his brothers Dick and Stanley and their nephew John DePriter. And that’s how the very first Primanti Bros. location was born – Primanti Bros. currently has 44 locations, all dedicated to that early notion that folks deserve great food, with no pretense, for a good price.
About Fraport USA®
Fraport USA is the developer and manager of the retail, food and beverage operations at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, Pittsburgh International Airport, and JetBlue’s Terminal 5 at John F. Kennedy International Airport. A leading airport concessions model in North America, Fraport USA projects rank among the highest for per-passenger spending and consistently receive accolades for innovation and customer service. For information, visit fraport-usa.com. Fraport USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide, the global airport company based in Frankfurt, Germany. For information about Fraport AG, visit fraport.com.
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