MCO Is Becoming a Destination: 40+ New Shops and Restaurants Are Coming to Orlando International
The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority is reimagining dining and retail across Terminals A & B at Orlando International Airport, blending Central Florida favorites with national brands. Phase 1 alone brings more than 40 new options, with phased openings running from Summer 2026 through late 2028.
A conceptual look at the reimagined guest experience coming to Terminals A & B at Orlando International Airport (MCO). Conceptual rendering only; the final design may change.
Image courtesy: Orlando Airport Press
What to Know
The MCO Concession Master Plan in brief
A multi-year, three-phase program to turn the airport’s food, beverage and retail into a showcase of Central Florida hospitality alongside the national brands travelers already know.
40+ new options in Phase 1. The GOAA Board approved Phase 1 in December 2024, bringing more than 40 new restaurants and shops to Terminals A & B, with Phases 2 and 3 adding more.
200,000+ square feet reimagined. Across all three phases, the plan redevelops more than 200,000 square feet of guest space designed to feel modern, welcoming and memorable.
Phased openings 2026 to 2028. Construction preparations are underway now, with openings rolling out from Summer 2026 through late 2028 as part of MCO’s broader capital plan.
The MCO Concession Master Plan is the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority’s multi-year effort to reimagine dining and retail across Terminals A & B at Orlando International Airport. Phase 1, approved in December 2024, brings more than 40 new restaurants and shops, blending national brands with Central Florida favorites through phased openings that run from Summer 2026 to late 2028.
According to the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA), which operates MCO, the plan takes a holistic approach: national brands sit alongside local legends, healthier options and experiences designed to reflect Central Florida’s character. The goal, in the Authority’s words, is to position Orlando International as a destination in itself, not just a place to pass through.
What is changing in Terminals A and B
The plan approved by the GOAA Board on December 11, 2024 covers more than 40 new retail and dining locations in Phase 1, with Phases 2 and 3 layering in even more. Collectively, the three phases redevelop over 200,000 square feet of guest space. It sits inside MCO’s broader $5.9 billion Capital Improvement Plan, which also touches restrooms, flooring, baggage claim and gate areas across Terminals A & B.
What makes this different from a routine food-court refresh is the balance. Rather than filling the concourse with interchangeable chains, the Authority is weighting the mix toward names that actually mean something to Central Florida, then rounding it out with the national brands travelers expect. For a region whose economy runs on hospitality, the front door finally starts to look like the place it welcomes people to.
The Central Florida flavors coming to MCO
This is where the plan earns its local credibility. Phase 1 brings landmark Orlando names into the terminals, including 4 Rivers Smokehouse, Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream and Maxine’s on Shine, alongside hometown favorites such as Otto’s High Dive, Stasio’s Italian Deli, Black Bean Deli, Eola Wine Company, Smoke & Donuts BBQ and Seito Sushi.
Retail follows the same instinct. Guests will be able to visit Central Florida brands including Adjectives, The House on Lang, Writer’s Block and Orange Appeal, giving the concourse a sense of place you rarely find between security and the gate.
The national brands travelers know
The local names share the terminal with brands built for a quick, reliable stop. Phase 2 additions include Chick-fil-A, Shake Shack, Raising Cane’s, CAVA, Panda Express, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Naya Middle Eastern Counter & Grill, Velvet Taco and a Citrus Market featuring a winery and tasting room powered by Brewlando, plus familiar anchors like Starbucks and McDonald’s.
That pairing is the whole point. A traveler in a hurry gets the dependable option they were already looking for, while a traveler with time to spare can try something they can only get in Central Florida.
The plan by the numbers
These figures show the scale of what GOAA is taking on across Terminals A & B, and why it registers as a regional story rather than a simple remodel.
Timeline: Summer 2026 through late 2028
Planning and construction preparations are underway now. The GOAA Board approved Phase 1 in December 2024 and has continued advancing Phase 2 packages through 2025, awarding additional restaurant and market concepts as the program expands. Openings are scheduled to roll out in phases, beginning in Summer 2026 and continuing through late 2028, so the concourse will change gradually rather than all at once.
A light real estate read on the project
An airport is the first and last impression a region makes, and for Central Florida that impression carries weight. A large share of local buyers, especially relocation and out-of-state buyers, form their first opinion of the area somewhere inside MCO. When that experience feels distinctly local and genuinely good, it quietly reinforces the case for living here.
None of this moves a specific home price on its own. But investment at this scale is a confidence signal, and confidence signals are worth reading. For buyers and sellers across Winter Garden, Horizons West, Windermere, Dr. Phillips and the greater Orlando metro, a stronger, more distinctive MCO is one more reason the region keeps drawing demand.
The Takeaway
The MCO Concession Master Plan is a genuine upgrade to how Central Florida greets the world: 40+ new dining and retail options in Phase 1, more than 200,000 square feet reimagined across three phases, and a deliberate mix of hometown names like 4 Rivers, Kelly’s and Maxine’s on Shine with the national brands travelers rely on.
Watch the phased openings between Summer 2026 and late 2028. Each one is a small marker of a region investing in itself, and the kind of momentum worth tracking whether you fly out of MCO often or you are weighing a move to the area.
FAQ
What is the MCO Concession Master Plan?
It is the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority’s multi-year, three-phase program to reimagine dining and retail across Terminals A & B at Orlando International Airport, mixing Central Florida favorites with national brands across more than 200,000 square feet of guest space.
When will the new MCO restaurants and shops open?
Openings roll out in phases, beginning in Summer 2026 and continuing through late 2028. Phase 1 was approved in December 2024, with Phases 2 and 3 adding more concepts over time.
Which local Orlando restaurants are coming to the airport?
Phase 1 landmark names include 4 Rivers Smokehouse, Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream and Maxine’s on Shine, along with Otto’s High Dive, Stasio’s Italian Deli, Black Bean Deli, Eola Wine Company, Smoke & Donuts BBQ and Seito Sushi. Local retail brands include Adjectives, The House on Lang, Writer’s Block and Orange Appeal.
Which terminals at MCO are affected?
The plan focuses on Terminals A & B. It is part of MCO’s broader $5.9 billion Capital Improvement Plan, which also includes upgrades to restrooms, flooring, baggage claim and gate areas in those terminals.
Why does an airport upgrade matter for Central Florida real estate?
An airport shapes the first impression many relocation and out-of-state buyers form of a region. A stronger, more distinctly local MCO reinforces Central Florida’s appeal and signals continued regional investment, which supports long-term buyer demand across Winter Garden and the greater Orlando metro.
External Links & Related Reading
For readers who want to review the official program details and the reporting behind this story, these are the key references.
Thinking about a move to Central Florida?
Regional investment like the MCO Concession Master Plan is part of why Central Florida keeps drawing buyers. When a move is on your radar, local context is everything.