O’Hare to Unveil Major Renovation of International Terminal

PHOTO: The new food court in Terminal 5 includes Tortas Frontera, a Chicago favorite. (Photos courtesy of Chicago O'Hare International Airport)

At last! Now you can get a bite to eat and a drink while waiting for your international flight to depart from Chicago. O’Hare International Airport and retail developer Westfield will officially unveil a long-awaited $26 million renovation of its international terminal on April 4.

Terminal 5 first opened in 1993, well before 9/11 and the resulting onslaught of security. As TSA lines were added, they blocked access to about 95 percent of the terminal’s dining and retail options, which meant you were out of luck if you were hungry or thirsty after you were cleared.

Here’s a video sneak peek of the renovations:

Construction started in July 2012 on a redevelopment that adds more than 18 restaurants and retail shops, including 11 local Chicago brands, such as Rick Bayless’ modern Mexican eatery Tortas Frontera, the Italian eatery Tocco, the artisanal market Goddess & Grocer and the coffee roaster and retailer Kofe powered by Intelligentsia. Chicago-based Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises is opening four locations, including casual eatery Hub 51, Asian restaurants Big Bowl and Wow Bao, and R.J. Grunts Burgers & Fries.

The new International Terminal at O’Hare will feature more news shops after security.

Also new is a 10,000-square-foot duty-free shop, scheduled to open in the fall. As is becoming increasingly prevalent at airports and cruise destinations nowadays, passengers will be routed through the Dufry store right after clearing the new TSA checkpoint.