The Miami Herald reports that Miami International Airport is restarting its search for a bookstore/cafe operator at the new South Terminal, after a bid protest and complications over minority participation upended its previous plan to award the contract to Borders Group. Now it will be months before the concessionaire is selected — and late next summer at the earliest before the shop can be built, delaying the opening by six months. And when that happens, Borders won’t be part of the bidding.
“We’re extremely disappointed in terms of the process they are having us go through again,” said Susan Zewicke, vice president of U.S. operations for Borders, which already operates one bookstore at MIA. “As a result, we’re not going to be rebidding for this one. It’s not worth it to us.” New proposal packages are available to be picked up beginning Wednesday, and bids are due July 12. AMS, a joint venture between the Hudson Group and SF Airport Retail is still considering participating. “Miami International Airport is a very exciting and important market for our company, said Joe DiDomizio, Hudson Group’s executive vice president and COO. “So we will carefully review any new RFP opportunity to determine if it is in our best interests to participate in the competitive bidding process.”