Two Favorite Austin Snack Spots Expand Into Airport

AUSTIN, TX — Two local favorites — Berry Austin and Departure Lounge — are joining the food and beverage scene at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, officials announced Tuesday.

Both concession options are across from Gate 8, and will be operated by Paradies Lagardère, according to airport officials.

Berry Austin will offer fresh smoothies, shakes and frozen yogurt that are delicious and described as “uniquely Austin.” The Austin original offers 10 soft serve flavors and more than 50 toppings. Berry Austin first opened in 2009 and expanded to downtown Austin in 2011, and the airport location will be its third site in Austin.

“We are very excited to be able to provide healthy and delicious snacks for our Austin neighbors and visitors to our city as they visit Austin Bergstrom International Airport,” Kathy Steele, founder of Berry Austin, said in a prepared statement. “We hope our unique style of smoothies, acai bowls, parfaits, and frozen yogurt will accompany people away from town, and welcome them back, with ongoing, happy thoughts of Austin.”

Departure Lounge is an upscale travel respite that offers organic coffees, small-batch boutique wines, artisan chocolates and cheeses, gourmet sandwiches and veggie wraps, and delicious desserts, as well as travel advisors. Travel advisors at the lounge work with customers to design and reserve the ideal vacation, including complimentary upgrades, special amenities and VIP treatment accessed through Departure Lounge’s exclusive membership in the Virtuoso luxury travel network, officials explained.

Based in Austin’s West Lake Hills neighborhood, Departure Lounge was first launched five years ago in downtown Austin before becoming well known for combining travel advising with the offerings of a high-end coffee and wine bar.

“There’s no better place for our brand to expand in Austin than at ABIA,” Departure Lounge founder Keith Waldon said in a prepared statement “Our clients are Austin’s most passionate travelers, and we are thrilled that they’ll have a familiar place at the airport to grab a great bite or beverage, while enjoying video virtual getaways to some of the best hotels, resorts, lodges and cruise ships on the planet that all offer Departure Lounge travel clients special upgrades and amenities. This is our first step in a state-wide expansion, that will include our next non-airport location in San Antonio (The Dominion) later this year.”

Paradies Lagardère also opening at ABIA earlier this year is an additional Barton Springs/Ruta Maya location, near Gate 5, according to officials. Barton Springs will provide travelers with travel basics such as newspapers, magazines, snacks and bottled beverages, along with delicious Ruta Maya coffee. Ruta Maya is an Austin-based coffee company that imports 100 percent organic Arabica coffee beans shade-grown by a cooperative of farmers in Chiapas, Mexico, according to company officials. Ruta Maya boasts a product line that includes certified organic coffee in medium, dark, and espresso roasts, officials said.

>>> Photo courtesy of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport