`The completion of the Concourse D extension at Nashville International Airport (BNA) adds eight new dining, shopping and live music venues to an airport already teeming with great options for passengers and for non-ticketed guests who get a guest pass via the BNA PASSport program.
New Heights Cantina & Taqueria (pictured above) offers award-winning local New Heights beer, a Taco Truck for orders on the go and a space for live music.
The other new additions include 3rd & Broadway (local and regionally made gifts), Sandella’s Flatbreads, The Castle ( “where soccer and great food collide”), Daniel Diamond (rhinestone products, fringe jackets, etc), Martini (bites, brews, beers, cocktails and coffee) and several others.
But the shop closed in July 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. And in a tweet announcing its departure, Powell’s said, “We hope to return one day.”
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the closure of both the store and kiosk at the Portland International Airport. Thank you for all of your support over these past 30 years. We hope to return one day. pic.twitter.com/tw8ryTRlxX
As part of the expansion and makeover of the main terminal at PDX, Powell’s Book is returning to the airport.
And they’ve got a seven-year lease.
“Since the day we closed our airport store almost four years ago, the most common question from shoppers has been ‘Will Powell’s be returning to PDX?’ Now with the main terminal expansion, we are thrilled to serve travelers through our world-renowned airport,” said Powell’s Books CEO Patrick Bassett.
Powell’s Books will open a temporary kiosk shop when the new main terminal opens at PDX this summer. The bookstore will open a larger, 1,940-square-foot retail space in Phase 2 of the main terminal construction.
The new store – Powell’s fourth Portland retail location – will be in the South Hall of the airport, immediately after the Concourse B/C security checkpoint. The temporary kiosk will be directly in front of where the permanent retail shop will eventually open.
The Stuck at the Airport team is visiting Kalispell, Montana this week. And we’re spending time at Glacier Park International Airport (FCA), which proudly bills itself as the Gateway to Northwestern Montana, Glacier National Park, and the Rocky Mountains.
One of the things we’ve learned is that Montana is bear country. And visitors spending time outdoors here are strongly encouraged to carry EPA-approved bear spray. And to learn how to use it.
But what about traveling with bear spray?
According to the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) “What Can I Bring?” tool, “one 4 fl. oz. (118 ml) container of mace or pepper spray is permitted in checked baggage provided it is equipped with a safety mechanism to prevent accidental discharge.”
But TSA takes a stronger position on bear spray. It is not allowed in either carry-on or checked bags.
Glacier Park International Airport knows that many passengers forget that they have bear spray in their bags. And that many travelers don’t know about the ‘no bear spray on airplanes’ rule.
So in an effort to keep checkpoint lines from getting bogged down with TSA officers opening bags to remove packed bear spray, a bear spray amnesty box is provided.
“Good News! There are no bears in the air,” is the message greeting travelers at the airport security checkpoint. The box has a picture of a bear next to a pile of suitcases and informs travelers that “Animal repellent is not allowed in checked or carry-on baggage. For safety reasons, please leave your bear spray here.”
What If You Need Bear Spray?
Passengers who land at Glacier Park International Airport in need of bear spray for their local adventures will find bear spray available for rent at the Glacier Outfitters shop in the baggage claim area.
It’s an unusual, but very appropriate local service to offer at an airport. So we are declaring bear spray rental at Glacier Park International Airport the “Amenity Airport of the Week.”
We take a break today from sharing the latest details on the Southwest Airlines debacle to celebrate the Airport Amenity of the Week.
Free coat check at Wisconsin’s Appleton International Airport (ATW) isn’t brand new. But we just learned about it. And want to celebrate it as a great amenity that we hope other airports might adopt.
Knowing that traveling in the Midwest can be tough in the winter, Appleton International Airport offers free coat check service to all travelers.
Passengers can drop off jackets at the ATWExpress Park desk in the terminal before heading to their gates and pick them up at that desk on their return. Coats are kept safe in a storage room.
The free coat check service is separate from the ATWExpress Park service, which is a valet service that costs just $8 a day.
Coat Check Service at Milwaukee Mitchell Airport Too
Winter coat check service is offered at another Wisconsin airport too. For the fourth year, Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) is offering a coat check service at the Summerfest Marketplace shop. Coats are placed in protective plastic before being stored away.
The service is not free. But it is a great deal at just $2 per day and a maximum of $10 per trip.
Here’s to many more great airport amenities that we can celebrate on Stuck at The Airport.com in 2023.
If you have a nomination for Airport Amenity of the Week, be sure to let us know.
A new vending machine at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas is a cool treat for Lego fans or anyone needing a fun last-minute gift.
Located post-security, just beyond the A/B gates, the vending has been in place for just a few weeks and is the first Lego vending machine in an airport.
Santa forgot to bring you some new Legos? Get them on the go with our NEW Lego vending machine. It's the only Lego machine in an airport. Find it post-security, just beyond the A/B Gates checkpoint.#Legopic.twitter.com/MmUjSeMUoI
Stock will surely change over time, but right now the set choices include Star Wars, Frozen, Duplo and others.
LAS airport has some other fun vending machines scattered about, including a Kylie Jenner cosmetics machine (in the D & E Gates), Sprinkles cupcake machines (in the C, D and E Gates) and a SouveNear machine filled with art and gifts made by local artists (in the C Gate area).
