Seven New Shops Open at

Louisville International Airport

LOUISVILLE, KY - March 24, 2010 — Today, Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson, Gregg Paradies, President and CEO of the Paradies Shops; Bob Evans, CEO of Churchill Downs; and  Phil Lynch, Chairman of the LRAA Board, celebrated the grand opening of seven new retail shops in the terminal.   The new stores are operated by The Paradies Shops, the airport’s news-and-gifts concessionaire.

Three of the seven new stores represent well-known Louisville brands at the airport.  Two iconic Louisville sports brands with global recognition, Churchill Downs and Louisville Slugger (neither of which previously have had off-site shops), plus the first carryout Heine Brothers, aim to strengthen airport visitors’ identity of Louisville.

The new stores offer merchandise not previously available at the airport. For example, the Churchill Downs store sells its local-themed merchandise and Kentucky Derby memorabilia, and shoppers can order personalized, full-size bats and purchase branded sports apparel and souvenirs at the Louisville Slugger Shop.  Both stores are located in the rotunda at the top of the escalator in the landside terminal.  

Heine Brothers To Go, where shoppers can purchase coffee, mugs, periodicals, packaged coffee and snacks, is in the lower level baggage claim area.

The airport’s upper-level bookstore, formerly Heritage Bookseller, is now The New York Times Books & News, which carries branded merchandise and books from the newspaper’s bestseller list.  Another news and gifts outlet, Finish Line News, has replaced Bluegrass News.  Both stores carry health-and-beauty travel aids, eyewear, luggage, electronics and other gifts, and are located in the rotunda. 

Experience Kentucky, which offers Kentucky- and Louisville-themed apparel (including local sports team-apparel), souvenirs, gifts and luggage, has replaced Explore Kentucky in the airside rotunda. 

The airport also welcomed a second CNBC News store.  CNBC News Express is located on Concourse A and offers books, periodicals, health-and-beauty travel aids, eyewear, luggage, electronics and other gifts.