Great Lakes Brewing Company Opens the Tap at the AIRMALL(R) at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport

CLEVELAND, Feb. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The AIRMALL® at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) is pleased to announce the opening of Great Lakes Brewing Company, a Cleveland original and brewer of award-winning lagers, ales and porters.

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090304/NE78862LOGO )

Operated by Cleveland Partners, LLC, the Great Lakes Brewing Company (approximately 3,000 sq. ft.) is located on Concourse C and includes a full-service restaurant and bar. In addition to a great selection of locally-brewed ales and lagers, travelers are able to choose from the restaurant's full menu of appetizers, pub favorites, sandwiches and dinner selections.

"Great Lakes Brewing Company is the latest example of locally-based dining concepts that have established a presence at the AIRMALL® at CLE," said Tina LaForte, vice president of BAA Cleveland. "We are dedicated to giving passengers a wide variety of high-quality dining options -- all at 'Regular Mall Prices…Guaranteed,' which is a hallmark of the AIRMALL®."

"We are excited to be a part of the ongoing concessions development at the AIRMALL® at CLE by providing travelers from all over the world with an authentic taste of Cleveland," added George Walker, operator of Great Lakes Brewing Company at the AIRMALL®. "Our award-winning, flavorful beers and mouth-watering food selections will surely be a big hit among passengers, all while providing uncompromising, superior customer service."

Established in 1988, Great Lakes Brewing Company was the first microbrewery in the state and today remains Ohio's most celebrated and award-winning brewer of lagers and ales.  Owners of the brewery have incorporated European brewing techniques to create their renowned beers and are committed to using only the freshest ingredients.  

"We are pleased to continue to provide passengers with local favorites such as Great Lakes Brewing Company and other similar concepts that showcase what our region has to offer," said Airport Director Ricky Smith. "We look forward to continuing to add to this exciting line-up."

The City of Cleveland forged a 10-year contract with BAA Cleveland in February 2008 to develop and manage concessions at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE).  The city anticipates the AIRMALL® will double the current participation rate of local and minority-owned companies, double the number of concession jobs, and double retail sales figures during the next decade.  

When complete, the AIRMALL® at CLE will occupy 76,000 square feet of retail space.

About BAA Cleveland

BAA Cleveland, Inc. is the developer and manager of the retail and concessions program at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE).  In 2008, BAA entered into a ten-year contract with the City of Cleveland to transform the retail, food and beverage concessions into the AIRMALL® at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, a strategic combination of well-known national brands and high-quality local concepts offered at "Regular Mall Prices…Guaranteed."  BAA Cleveland is a project of BAA USA, the developer and manager of the retail, food and beverage operations at the AIRMALLs® at Pittsburgh International Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, and Boston Logan International Airport (Terminals B and E).  BAA USA is an affiliate of BAA Limited, the world's leading airport company, which owns and operates six UK airports (Heathrow, Stansted, Southampton, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow).  For more information, visit www.airmall.com or www.baausa.com.

SOURCE BAA Cleveland