Delaware North Opens Famous Pink's Hot Dogs at LAX

LOS ANGELES, July 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services, one of the world's leading airport food and retail providers, will hold the official grand opening of Pink's Hot Dogs at Tom Bradley International Terminal  (TBIT) at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).  The new location is the first time that the well-known Pink's brand has been featured at an airport anywhere in the world.   In celebration of the grand opening, a portion of the proceeds from Delaware North's sales on opening day will be donated to the United Service Organizations (USO) - Greater Los Angeles Area, Inc., which provides support to U.S. service personnel and their families.

The addition of Pink's Hot Dogs at TBIT follows the completion of a $723-million remodel of the highly-traveled international terminal.  "Adding popular dining and retail concepts that reflect Los Angeles' culture, lifestyle and cuisine adds measurably to the passenger experience," said Los Angeles World Airports Executive Director Gina Marie Lindsey.  "Pink's Hot Dogs brings a much admired addition to that experience."  

In honor of opening day and just in time for National Hot Dog month celebrated annually in July, Delaware North Companies and Richard Pink, owner of the original Pink's Hot Dogs in Hollywood, invited a number of military service men and women from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard today to LAX Pink's for a complimentary send-off meal in appreciation for their service and dedication.  Delaware North is a longtime supporter of the USO in various locales and currently employs more than 300 either active or retired military personnel.

"We are very thankful to Delaware North for naming the USO of Greater Los Angeles as the beneficiary of its Pink's Hot Dogs LAX grand-opening celebration," said Mike Teilmann, director of USO – Greater Los Angeles Area, Inc.  "Delaware North's and Pink's financial donation will help us continue to support and provide simple comforts to the many thousands of service men and women who fly out of LAX each week to assignments around the world."  

Travelers to LAX will also have the opportunity to experience a new Pink's Hot Dog menu item, aptly named the "LAX International Dog," available only at the Pink's LAX location.  The selection was created by Tim Ihle, an LAX employee.  The recipe was chosen from dozens of entries submitted by LAX employees, with the final selection made by Richard Pink and one of Los Angeles' biggest Pink's Hot Dogs fans, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.  

"We're thrilled to partner with Delaware North to bring Pink's Hot Dogs and a little bit of Hollywood nostalgia to LAX," said Pink's owner Richard Pink, whose family owns and still operates the original Pink's Hot Dogs location in Hollywood, the town that made the landmark eatery famous.  "Visitors from all over the world can now experience Pink's and its famous hot dogs, whether they plan a stop in Hollywood or not."

Establishing a Pink's Hot Dogs location at one of the world's busiest airports is just another example of Delaware North's longtime "Gateway Concept" approach to airport dining.  The Gateway Concept focuses on bringing local, popular brands to major public venues like airports, sports arenas and other travel destinations.  At LAX the company already operates The Encounter Restaurant & Bar, located inside the landmark LAX Theme Building, as well as the Daily Grill at the Tom Bradley International Terminal, among others.  In the future, Delaware North has plans to bring an all new "Skewers" concept to LAX, created by Iron Chef's Masaharu Morimoto.  Additionally, the company operates dining and retail locations at the LA/Ontario International Airport, which is also part of Los Angeles World Airports operations.

"The opening of Pink's has been widely anticipated for months," said Kurt Clausen, general manager for Delaware North Companies' operations at LAX.  "Providing visitors from around the world with an opportunity to experience the flair and local culture of dining destinations like Pink's Hot Dogs is what Delaware North is all about."

PHOTOS:  Related photos can be downloaded at: http://media.delawarenorth.com/ or http://lawamedia.org/.

About Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services

Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services, a subsidiary of Delaware North Companies, is one of the nation's leading airport food service and retail companies, operating 300 restaurants and retail outlets in more than 25 airports worldwide, and serving more than 350 million customers each year. The GuestPath® customer service training program ensures that all Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services associates embody the company's vision of "Providing Care and Comfort to People Away from Home."

About Pink's

Pink's Famous Hot Dogs has been a Hollywood legend since 1939.  Originally opened as a hot dog cart, the family-owned Pink's hot dog stand still operates out of the same Hollywood location, near the corner of Melrose and La Brea Avenues.  Celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, Pink's is a must-see destination for tourists and locals alike, serving more than 2,000 hot dogs a day to patrons arriving in everything from limos to pickups.  The dining room features more than 200 celebrity photos of famed customers, including Bill Cosby, Martha Stewart, Jay Leno, Henry Winkler, Aretha Franklin and many more.  To find Pink's in Hollywood, look for a long line of people on La Brea and follow the aroma of fresh hot dogs, meaty chili and soft hot dog buns. 

About USO – Greater Los Angeles Area, Inc.

The United Service Organizations (USO) is a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to support the troops by providing morale, welfare and recreation-type services to men and women in uniform. The USO currently operates 130 centers worldwide, including 10 mobile canteens located in the continental United States and overseas. Service members and their families visit USO centers approximately 5.3 million times per year.  The USO – Greater Los Angeles Area, Inc. oversees centers at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), LA/Ontario International Airport and the Palm Springs Airport.  The Bob Hope Hollywood USO at the LAX features a "Hollywood Canteen" with food and snacks available 24 hours a day; a lounge area with televisions; restrooms with showers; a library; Internet computer stations; a nap room; a special playroom for kids and an outdoor patio.  All services are provided free-of-charge to uniformed personnel and their families.

SOURCE Delaware North Companies

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