Sacramento International Airport To Spice Up Waiting Area With Food Trucks

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - Sacramento International Airport is in the market for some new tenants, but it has nothing to do with flying the friendly skies.

We've all been there; circling and circling around the terminal as we wait for our loved ones to give us the call that they're ready to be picked up. But now, airport officials are hoping drivers take advantage of a free waiting area by bringing food trucks to the parking lot.

"It is a hot trend right now; other airports are doing it," said airport spokesperson Laurie Slothower.

It would offer frequent travelers like Sierra Nevada Brewing Company representative Jeff Eder an enticing entrée food trucks to his airport waiting menu.

"They have more fresh food. It's hot and you're supporting local business, which is nice," said Eder.

He and driver Ashley Setoudeh agree that the average wait time for passengers arriving at the airport is about 30 minutes, but offering hot food may even encourage them to wait longer.

"If we knew that there were food trucks, we might plan ahead for an extra 10 to 15 minutes," said Setoudeh.

Although the airport is just in the planning stages, officials say the application process for interested vendors is open.

"There really is no limit. If a truck vendor thinks they can make a profit, we encourage them to apply," said Slothower.

Sacramento International Airport is looking to fill the more than 1,000, usually empty, parking spaces with eager tenants and hungry customers.

"Depending on the time of day, breakfast foods in the morning and burgers and fries at night, that kind of thing," traveler Richard Anderson said of some of the offerings he'd like to see.

Even though travelers can make a quick stop at the Arco AM-PM by the airport's entrance, officials say bringing food trucks onsite would likely not take away from their business.

According to www.sacfoodtrucks.net, there are over 40 truck vendors around the Sacramento and Central Valleys who could be vying for one of these coveted spots.

Venders can apply online through the county airport's website, and must do so by Oct. 3.

Sacramento International Airport is hoping to have their vendor lot up and running by the New Year.