Lakeland International Airport tried to find a private vendor to open a small concession shop beyond its new Transportation Security Administration checkpoint.
The Aerospace Center for Excellence next to the airport was interested. The nonprofit organization already operates at least three small shops: a camp store, concession area, and souvenir island at the Florida Air Museum.
Lakeland’s City Commission voted unanimously Monday to grant ACE a three-year lease for a 290-square-foot retail space inside the terminal’s secure passenger lounge.
Shop hours: At a minimum, the shop must be open whenever the TSA screening checkpoint is active, and it must remain open until 15 minutes after the last passenger has left the hold room. Initially, that will mean Thursdays and Sundays, when Avelo’s flights are scheduled.
The terms: The monthly rent for the space is $532 including utilities. The contract says “due to the start-up nature of this business,” rent will be waived for the first year. However, the Aerospace Center will have to pay the airport 12% of its gross revenue.
The Aerospace Center will get a 50% rent credit for any improvements it makes to the space, up to $25,000. Moveable items like coolers and security cameras are not eligible, but permanent things like flooring, built-in display cabinets, wall coverings and signage would count.