There's a Giant New Food Hall Landing Next to LAX This Year

Looks like some big-business entrepreneurs are starting to figure out that Grand Central Market must make a hell of a lot of money, because here comes the second big food hall news of the week. The first, of course, is the eventual arrival of Smorgasburg into Downtown, but now comes word that an entirely separate facility is being built next to LAX.

The LA Times has details on the project, which is set to transform the longstanding Proud Bird restaurant (which sat within sightline of the runway strips and is, naturally, aviation-themed) into a 50,000 square foot mega-complex filled with a variety of vendors at all levels. There are no specific names being mentioned yet, but those will start to trickle out as the 10-month renovation project moves along.

The new Proud Bird production will ultimately featuring lots of shared tables and various lounge areas, making it perhaps something more akin to the OC Mix Mart than the longstanding Grand Central Market, which still values individual vendor space over communal dining.

There will be a full bar available, as well as food from the Proud Bird restaurant repertoire, as reimagined by incoming chef Lauren Kyles. And, of course, tall windows so that aviation nuts can still watch the planes as they take off and land. Look for the redone Proud Bird facility to land sometime at the end of 2016.