Dive Brief:
- California Pizza Kitchen has opened its second location in the Los Angeles International Airport, the company announced Monday. The unit will be operated by Concord Collective in Terminal 6.
- This opening follows CPK’s first opening at the Santiago International Airport in Chile this September.
- CPK launched a domestic franchising program in December and has also been expanding internationally, with locations in Costa Rica and India set to open this year.
Dive Insight:
CPK joins a growing list of chains, including Whataburger, Fazoli’s and Fat Brands’ Elevation Burger, that have or are opening airport locations this year as traffic recovered following the end of pandemic restrictions. In 2021, 23.6 million passengers traveled through LAX Airport, a 68% increase from 2020, for example. As of March, 2.6 million passengers use LAX monthly. CPK also has about a dozen airport locations, including Philadelphia International Airport, San Diego International Airport, John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, and Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.
This expansion shows CPK has come a long way since it declared bankruptcy in 2020. The company opened its first Canadian restaurant in August and continues to seek additional franchisees.
The company is offering customizable menus, design layouts and multiple daypart offerings that can align with various markets. For example, Concord Collective will offer several California-inspired breakfast items for travelers, a daypart not typically available at traditional CPKs, in addition to a menu with various classic CPK dishes and pizzas.
CPK is looking for franchise opportunities nationwide, according to its franchising website, while it has largely kept the Southwest limited to corporate-owned locations. In addition to airports, the company is also looking to partner with operators to expand into entertainment venues like sports arenas and casinos.
