Airport gets new eateries

PHOTO FLORIDA WEEKLY Quiznos Sub shop and a Nathan's Famous hot dogs opened recently at the Southwest Florida International Airport. Dining choices at Southwest Florida International Airport increased by nearly 20 percent this past week when a Quiznos Sub shop and a Nathan's Famous hot dog shop opened up in the main terminal.

Including Starbucks Coffee and the two new shops, the airport now has 14 eateries.

"We added Starbucks Coffee in all of the concourses. In December, we added a second Starbucks in the main terminal. We really felt we could use it. People like their coffee around here," said airport spokeswoman Barbara-Anne Urrutia. "We had heard sandwiches would also be a plus. We kept hearing 'we wish we had some kind of sandwich food venue' because it is something you can grab. They can take them through security. They can't take a liquid, but they can take the food."

By mid-week, travelers were lining up at both shops.

"It's nice," sad Chicago-bound Regina Elezi, 24, as she munched on a Classic Italian sub and fed a bottle to her 8-month-old son, Jakovo Mecollari. "There was no line. It was pretty quick."

A few tables away, Christopher Boersting, 34, ate a hot dog and french fries from Nathan's Famous. His wife, Brigitte, 32, sipped on a soda.

The couple, along with their 2-year-old son, Benedick, were on their way home to Germany after spending three weeks in Florida.

"It is very good," said Brigitte Boersting.

Urrutia said airport officials decided to place the restaurants in the main terminal, near Chili's, because Southwest Florida International is well-known for having millions of "meeters and greeters" who would otherwise be unable to access the eateries.

In 2006, 7.6 million travelers passed through the airport. Urrutia said there are an average of two to three people who meet each traveler.

"That's why we maxed out the old terminal," she said.

The new terminal opened on Sept. 9, 2005. Nathan's fun facts:

>>Nathan Handwerker, a Polish immigrant, opened his hot dog stand on the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in Coney Island, New York. Nathan borrowed 300 dollars from his friends Jimmy Durante and Eddie Cantor to open the stand.

>>Nathan's began serving Coca Cola in 1916 making the hot dog company Coca Cola's oldest chain customer.

>>According to legend, on July 4, 1916, four European immigrants hold an impromptu hot dog eating contest to settle an argument about patriotism. It is decided that whoever can eat the most Nathan's hot dogs is clearly the most American. Irish immigrant James Mullen wins the contest by eating 13 Nathan's hot dogs in buns in 12 minutes, beginning an annual tradition that survives to this day.

>>Archie Leach, later to become one of the world's most loved actors under the name Cary Grant, wore a sandwich board advertising the Coney Island Steeple Chase.

>>Nathan serves free beer at his restaurant in 1933 to celebrate the end of Prohibition.

>>Nathan's opened its second restaurant in Oceanside, Long Island in 1956.

>>Nathan's Famous first becomes a public company in 1970. The proceeds were used to open Nathan's fourth restaurant in Times Square.

>>Nathan Handwerker died in 1974 at the age of 82.

>>Nathan's acquires Miami Subs Corporation and Kenny Rogers Roasters in 1999.

>>Nathan's becomes the official hot dog of the New York Yankees in 2000.