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Indy’s airport is consistently ranked among the best in the country and tops among mid-sized in the US. Here’s why.
The menu at the Indianapolis International Airport is set to expand as soon as late this year. Three new dining concepts — a gastropub operation from Speedway-based Daredevil Brewing, a food and beverage outpost from Carmel-based Java House and a concessions space for a rotating roster of chefs — are expected to open over the next two years, while the airport location of Shapiro’s Delicatessen plans to temporarily close and reopen with a new menu in late 2027.
According to a news release from the Indianapolis Airport Authority, the IAA’s request for proposal received pitches for nearly 40 eateries from 21 different businesses. Ultimately, the IAA chose Carmel-based restaurant group CC Holdings to operate all four upcoming concepts.
“By exposing travelers to the incredible innovations in Indiana’s own backyard, offering exceptional interactions with our guests, and maximizing returns for all involved, we intend to enhance the Indiana experience for travelers with their every visit and further distinguish the airport as a uniquely superior destination,” CC Holdings founder and Chief Executive Officer Kim Hendren said in the news release.
Daredevil’s Lift Off restaurant, expected to open in Concourse A by the end of 2026, will offer Daredevil beer, cocktails, tavern-style pizza and other pub grub. The new space will feature exposed brick with wood accents, according to the news release.
Java House Bistro is also expected to open by the end of the year. The 12-location cold brew empire’s airport space will also feature a menu curated by veteran chef and multi-time James Beard Award semifinalist Steven Oakley, whose north-side restaurant Oakleys Bistro has operated for more than 20 years and recently appeared on IndyStar’s list of 21 defining Indianapolis restaurants. Oakley will also serve in an advisory role for chefs featured in the rotating concessions area, which is expected to open in the airport’s Civic Plaza by fall 2027.
“Our goal is to make food fun, approachable, and exciting while bringing hospitality with a very personal touch to our guests,” Oakley said in a statement. “We’ll be offering many local culinary favorites that give a sense of nostalgia with a fun twist, and that offers travelers an experience to remember.”
Similar culinary “incubators” and multi-vendor commissary kitchens have cropped up around central Indiana over the last decade, most notably the Fishers Test Kitchen that housed a series of Indy chefs during its six-year run before ceasing operations at the end of last year. During the 2025-26 Pacers season, Gainbridge Fieldhouse has dedicated one of its concessions spaces to its ongoing Guest Chef program, which plans to feature eight different concepts from local chefs by the end of the season.
More: Fishers Test Kitchen in Sun King building closes, making way for Indy chef with big name
The airport’s Shaprio’s location, which has served grab-and-go versions of the deli’s regionally famed fare in Concourse B since 2008, plans to close by early 2027 and undergo renovations with an anticipated reopening date in late 2027. The reimagined Shapiro’s will offer breakfast, lunch and dinner in “traveler-friendly” portions.
Per the IAA’s news release, the new food and beverage spots will create approximately 45 jobs at the airport. Two additional potential locations are presently “undergoing further study.” The Indianapolis Airport currently houses 27 different food and beverage outposts.
Contact dining reporter Bradley Hohulin at bhohulin@indystar.com. You can follow him on Twitter/X @BradleyHohulin and stay up to date with Indy dining news by signing up for the Indylicious newsletter.