Redevelopment Plans Unveiled for O’Hare’s Terminal 5

Chicago O’Hare

The Chicago Department of Aviation unveiled its plans for redeveloping Terminal 5 of Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Along with a massive remodeling of the terminal, plans include 15 new dining and retail brands, as well as new passenger amenities, and are set to be completed by fall of 2013.

A highlight of the redevelopment is that many dining and retail options will be located post-security, as 95% percent of the terminal’s options are currently located pre-security. It will be the terminal’s first redevelopment since its construction in 1993.

The $26 million redevelopment will include a new food court, along with a new TSA checkpoint with new lighting, signage, and fixtures. There will also be a new, European-style pass-through duty-free store after the TSA checkpoint, featuring shops from designers such as Bvlgari, Michal Kors, and Emporio Armani.

Dining options will include Tortas Frontera, a sit-down Mexican restaurant, Natural Break, featuring fresh-made salads and sandwiches, Tocco, with an Italian menu featuring wood-fired pizza, and Intelligentsia Coffee, with coffees from around the world. There will also be four unique concepts from Chicago-based restaurant group Lettuce Entertain You Enterprise: Hub 51, which will offer fresh sushi, tacos, and burgers, Urban Olive, which features Mediterranean cuisine, Big Bowl, offering Chinese and Thai food, and Wow Bao, featuring hot Asian buns.

Chicago-based Vosges Haut Chocolat will offer exotic chocolate bars and truffles, while I Love Chicago will feature original artwork, apothecary, and other unique accessories. There will also be an XpresSpa to provide massage services and salon treatments.