Travelers passing through Huntsville International Airport can now enjoy their favorite brand of caffeinated rocket fuel and a lot more as the airport’s first Starbucks opens its doors today. Along with the popular national coffee and drink shop, local brand Interstellar Pizza makes its Airport debut offering freshly-made pizza by the slice or the pie as well as craft beer featuring pints on tap by Huntsville’s InnerSpace Brewing.

“Huntsville International is more than doubling food and beverage options for our customers, and this is just one demonstration of our commitment to being our community’s best choice for air travel,” said Joey Ceci, Board Chair for Huntsville International Airport.

The opening of Starbucks and Interstellar at HSV heralds a comprehensive upgrade in food, beverage and retail outlets in the airport terminal. HSV doesn’t manage the restaurants at the airport, rather, these services are provided through a concession agreement. As of July 2024, Tailwind Hospitality, headquartered in Wilmington, N.C., manages food, beverage and retail concessions at Huntsville.

“At Tailwind, we honor the communities we belong to by prioritizing the sourcing of local goods,” said Jess Backhaus, Senior Vice President of Operations for Tailwind. “From InnerSpace beer in our restaurants to Holtz Leather and 1818 Farms beauty and home products in our retail stores, local craftsmanship is woven into everything we do at Huntsville International Airport.”

Airport customers will now see a fresh new Starbucks and gleaming Interstellar Pizza where before there was a long, blank wall. The 2,000-square-foot area between concourse gates 8 and 10 previously and discreetly housed offices for the Transportation Security Administration. The new restaurants will be open for business from one hour prior to the first flight through the arrival of the last flight of the day.

“We have known for a long time that our passengers have wanted a Starbucks at Huntsville International, and we have worked diligently to provide this amenity for their enjoyment,” said Butch Roberts, Huntsville International Airport CEO. “We anticipate that they are going to love even more upgrades to our concourse and terminal as we continue to roll out HSV Refresh over the next year.”

With the opening of the new restaurants, the former Spaceport Café and Beer Garden located mid-concourse will close temporarily for a much-needed overhaul. Construction will completely revamp the existing restaurant and bar with a fresh new décor scheme including a short-order grill, an Everbowl craft superfood and smoothie kiosk, and a modern, commercial kitchen capable of dishing up made-to-order selections for breakfast, lunch and dinner in a sit-down, full-service restaurant environment. The renovation should take a brisk four months.

The plan to revamp food, beverage and retail will roll out in phases and is meant to minimize disruptions in the availability of amenities to customers. Until the restaurant reopens, pop-up kiosks will supplement Starbucks and Interstellar at these concourse locations:

• Full-service Bar. Located between Gates 6–8, the bar will provide travelers with a comfortable place to relax and enjoy beer, wine and cocktails.
• Multi-purpose Service Station. Located between Gates 2–4, this pop-up shop offers a variety of beverages, packaged snacks, over-the-counter medicine and travel essentials.
• Grab-and-go kiosk. Located near Gate 5, this snack and beverage outpost will supplement Interstellar and Starbucks until the new restaurant opens.

In addition, Comet Coffee and Orbit + Go retail will take the place of the current retail shop adjacent to the pre-security Public Waiting zone, and the Discover Huntsville retail shop in the concourse will be fully renovated.