A popular Starbucks in Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport's domestic terminal will close later this year, to make way for an expanded area for security lines.
Long security lines sometimes extend into the atrium, and the plan to widen the queuing area for security is expected to reduce that. The project is part of Hartsfield-Jackson's broader "ATLNext" plan for $6 billion in expansion and renovation throughout the airport.
The Starbucks, which sits on the side of the main security checkpoint, is one of the casualties of the push to make room for long security lines. The location is set to close by fall, according to Hartsfield-Jackson spokesman Reese McCranie.
Kelly Yamanouchi
Kelly Yamanouchi
It's the only Starbucks in the domestic terminal, and the airport has not yet determined how or where it will be replaced.
"It's possible there will be an alternate location for Starbucks," McCranie said. The issues complicating the effort to keep Starbucks addicts fueled in the terminal include finding the space, negotiating concessions contract terms and navigating issues of fairness with other concessions forced to close, including a bookstore/gift shop on the other side of the TSA queuing area.
At the world's busiest airport, there are a number of other Starbucks locations past security in the concourses, as well as a Starbucks in the international terminal. But those are not as easily accessible for those in the domestic terminal.
The domestic terminal Starbucks, like other airport Starbucks locations, is run by concessionaire HMSHost. Starbucks and HMSHost have an exclusive agreement for Starbucks locations in airports.
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