Hartsfield-Jackson workers seek new jobs in concessions overhaul

Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport's massive overhaul of its concessions means hundreds of current airport workers will be out of a job, even as hundreds more positions open up with new restaurants and shops moving into the airport.

The transition is complicated for the concessionaires and the airport and brings uncertainty for workers, and in an effort to ease the transition, the airport is holding a job fair through Saturday for current concessions workers.

The airport will hold a separate concessions job fair open to the public, April 2-4 at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park. More information is on Hartsfield-Jackson's website.

Rodney Lewis, who said he has worked at the airport for about 15 years and is now a general manager at the Charley's on Concourse C, said he is looking for a similar position with another concessionaire.

His employer, Concessions International last month said it expects to lay off about 530 employees, as it closes many of its existing locations, though many workers could find jobs with new restaurants. Concessions International won a contract for some new locations, but will have fewer outlets and end up with a smaller workforce.

Lewis said the transition has many employees "just nervous and scared," and feeling that they "don't know exactly what to look forward to."

But, Lewis said, the airport is giving workers a helping hand with the job fair. "They're trying to not just throw you out on the street."

At the start of the first day of the job fair on Thursday, dozens of workers lined up on an upper level of the airport atrium, waiting to get in to meet with concessionaires looking to hire for their new airport restaurants and shops. By mid-morning, nearly 150 job seekers had arrived to meet with companies including HMSHost, Paradies-Atlanta, Vida-Velocity, Hojeij Branded Foods, Global Concessions, Atlanta Restaurant Partners, Delaware North Cos. and Goodrum Enterprises.

The concessionaires listed openings for sales associates, cooks, servers, cashiers, baristas, shift managers, hosts and hostesses, managers, warehouse workers, administrative employees, dishwashers, and others, depending on the company.

Mimi Teshome, a bartender at the Last Call Bar on Concourse C, said her location is closing, but she feels hopeful about finding a similar position. "It's such a unique place to work," Teshome said. "They still need the manpower."

The restaurant and shop locations that will open at the airport over the next couple of years include about 150 outlets, including McDonald's, Varasano's Pizzeria, Chick-fil-A, Popeye's, Willy's, T.G.I. Friday's, The Varsity, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, The Real Chow Baby, Starbucks, Ecco, MAC,  Spanx and others. Some of the restaurants and shops have already had a presence at the airport. But many of the restaurants will close to make way for the new outlets.

The first new concessions locations are expected to open in May, including at the airport's new international terminal to open May 16.