Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Bon appétit! A pair of new tasty restaurant options are now available for travelers at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport.
Opened back on May 27 in the airport's post-security food court area, BurgerFi and Bocce Club Pizza are the newest outposts at the airport in partnership with hospitality and entertainment company Delaware North.
"We are thrilled to provide travelers with two new food choices," said NFTA Executive Director Kim Minkel on Thursday. "Bocce Club Pizza has been a local pizza favorite since 1959, and complements the other local food favorites here at this airport. BurgerFi is a fast-growing, upscale burger chain committed to serving the highest quality fresh food and an eco-friendly environment."
"As a home-based company like Delaware North, we're very proud to bring you Bocce Club Pizza as an expansion of an iconic brand located here in Buffalo, and with that, combine a national brand to continue to drive great customer service here at the airport," added Tom Waldron, Chief Operating Officer with Delaware North.
Bocce Club Pizza and BurgerFi joins Tim Hortons in the food court area of the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, while also joining the likes of the Anchor Bar, Queen City Kitchen and The Market on Elmwood as other food options for travelers.
"The Buffalo Niagara [International] Airport is the gateway to our region," said Assemblywoman Monica Wallace, who was on-hand for Thursday's announcement. "It's really wonderful that we have great restaurants. Bocce Pizza [has been] a staple for 75 years in Western New York, so it gives people an opportunity to see what we know we have here in Western New York, which is an abundance of great food."
Also on-hand for Thursday's announcement was Bocce Club Pizza owner Jim Pacciotti, who's father, Dino, founded the establishment in 1946. He's amazed that 75 years later, after starting out at a former bocce-ball club, his father's legacy has now reached travelers at the airport.
"This all started back when a Delaware North rep contacted me and he said, 'We need a homegrown, long-standing, iconic pizzeria to represent the airport. I told him you called the right place," said Pacciotti.
Traditionally a take-out service for customers, Pacciotti admits this new Bocce Club Pizza outpost at the airport will be a learning experience for him. However, he's committed to continuing to serve the iconic Bocce Club Pizza to everyone who stops by.
"This model here is something that we're looking forward to. It was a little learning, a little stuff on the go, but I think the product is outstanding," Pacciotti said. "I want to make sure it's Bocce's Pizza, and I think they're doing a great job here at Delaware North, and we're learning on the go, basically."
Pacciotti also says he told Delaware North that Bocce Club Pizza would look like a great option in other airports around the country.
In addition to the new food options available for travelers, the airport also welcomed a new airline company to its ranks on Thursday, Sun Country Airline. Sun Country offers fliers direct service to Minneapolis-St. Paul twice a week, and will run all the way through Labor Day this year.
The first Sun Country flight arrived in Buffalo on Thursday shortly before 10:45 a.m. ET.
