Gilbert Aranza is the President of each corporate entity
affiliated with SCL. Mr. Aranza has primary overall responsibility for the
development, management, and strategic planning for SCL and all of SCL’s
affiliates’ concessions operations. This includes supervision of existing
operations as well as identifying and developing additional airports and other
“non-traditional” retail and food and beverage locations. Mr. Aranza supervises
concept design, construction, and management hiring, and is the primary liaison
with airport management and other landlords. He also has primary responsibility
for raising capital, for negotiations with franchisors and licensors, and for
relations with suppliers.
Mr. Aranza has a proven track record of starting successful
businesses from conceptualization to implementation and operation, often
breaking new ground in the industry. In 1983, he founded the J. Pepe’s
restaurant chain, which later acquired the Key West Grill chain from Steak and
Ale restaurants. At the peak of those operations, Mr. Aranza operated a total
of nine J. Pepe’s or Key West Grill units in Texas and Florida. Mr. Aranza sold
those restaurants in December 1993. In 1993, Mr. Aranza began developing Pizza
Hut restaurants in Mexico, eventually opening five restaurants
in Merida, Mexico and one inCozumel, Mexico. Because of the December 1994 peso
devaluation, Mr. Aranza divested himself of the Mexican operations to devote his
time and financial resources to developing and operating an airport concession
business. In 1995, Pizza Hut purchased the Mexico restaurants from Mr. Aranza,
but his relationship with Pizza Hut continued and he remains a Pizza Hut
franchisee at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
and Dallas Love FieldAirport.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Operations
Since November of 1995, Gilbert Aranza, through SCL and its
affiliates, has been the largest operator of food and beverage concessions at
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (“DFW”). At DFW, SCL presently operates
the following food and beverage units: four Taco Bells , two Pizza Hut Express
units, one Pizza Hut/KFC Express combination unit, an East Side Mario’s (a quick
service Italian concept), the Cowtown Bar (a proprietary Western-themed bar),
three Skybox Sports Bars (in partnership with an affiliate of the Dallas
Cowboys), two Jazzman’s coffee and bakery units, a Cool River Café (full service
steakhouse and southwestern grill), a Cantina Laredo (full service upscale
Mexican concept), and a Champps Americana Grill and Bar (full service sports
bar and restaurant).
In partnership with HMS Host Corporation, SCL and its affiliates
own eight Starbucks Coffee and Business Centers located at each of the Skylink
train stations. These unique units feature state-of-the-art internet
connections (including wireless), a business center with a lounge area, and a
full Starbucks Coffee, along with sales of magazines and newspapers. An
affiliate of SCL has converted several other units at DFW to Starbucks Coffee,
also in partnership with HMS Host.
Also at DFW, SCL has operated many retail units, including
several Official Dallas Cowboys Pro Shops (in partnership with an affiliate of
the Dallas Cowboys) and previously managed three Fossil shops (selling Fossil
brand watches, belts, ties and other leather accessories).
In 2001, Mr. Aranza built and since then has operated two
convenience store/service stations at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in
partnership with an affiliate of the Dallas Cowboys. The first is a two-acre
facility at the south airport entrance featuring a 3,500 square foot convenience
store, a drive-thru Taco Bell, and ten Shell gas dispensing units. The second is
located at the north airport entrance featuring a 3,500 square foot convenience
store, a drive-thru Whataburger restaurant, and ten Shell gas/diesel dispensing
units.
Dallas Love Field Operations
Since February 1, 1995, Gilbert Aranza, through the Dallas Love
Field Joint Venture, Ltd., has operated the food and beverage concessions
at Dallas LoveField Airport. Concepts used at Love Field include two
full-service Chili’s Too restaurants, two Cinnabon Bakery units, the Antler’s
Brew Pub, two food courts featuring deli sandwiches and salads, Pizza Hut
Express units, and a Dreyer’s Ice Cream shop. The Dallas Love Field Joint
Venture, Ltd. also owns and operates the Love Field Conference Center, a full
service meeting facility in the airport, which also offers complete meal
catering. In 2006, an affiliate was awarded the shoe shine concession contract
at Love Field.
Military Installation Development
Mr. Aranza worked for several years to build relationships with
representatives of the United States military with a goal to provide name brand,
full service casual dining facilities on domestic military installations. In
2008, an affiliated company was awarded contracts with the Navy to develop
restaurants on two Naval Installations. Our first restaurant, a Chili’s Bar and
Grill, opened in October, 2009 on the Norfolk Naval Installation
in Norfolk, Virginia. We have a signed and congressionally approved contract
to build a Chili’s on the Fort Hood Army Garrison in Killeen, Texas and will
break ground there in the spring of 2010. Through the request for proposal
process, we were awarded rights to develop restaurants on 19 additional Army
garrisons. There are plans for development on Marine bases as well.
Airline Club Operations
From 1997 until September, 2008, Gilbert Aranza, through Club
Concepts I, Ltd. and Coast Clubs I, Ltd. (“CCIL”), operated food and bar
facilities at airline hospitality clubs. CCIL assumed operation of the food and
beverage service at four American Airlines’ Admirals Clubs at Dallas/Fort Worth
International Airport and the Austin–Bergstrom International Airport in March of
1997. In addition to those four Admirals Clubs, CCIL provided all food and
beverage service at the LAX Admirals Clubs and the Chicago O’Hare Admirals
Clubs. In addition, CCIL operated the United Airlines’ Red Carpet Clubs at Los
Angeles International Airport, San Diego International Airport, and Dallas/Fort
Worth International Airport.
Other Food and Beverage Operations
Gilbert Aranza was selected by Mr. Jerry Jones, owner of the
Dallas Cowboys Football Club, to operate the alcoholic beverage concession at
Texas Stadium, which was the home to many local functions, including the Dallas
Cowboys’ football games prior to the opening of the new Dallas Cowboys football
stadium in Arlington, Texas. In addition, the City of Dallas selected an
affiliate of Gilbert Aranza, AH Star, Ltd., and its partner, Volume Services
America (now Center Plate), to be the food and beverage provider to the Dallas
Convention Center, the nation’s seventh busiest convention center.
Mr. Aranza, a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and
Harvard Law School, is an attorney, formerly practicing at the law firms of
Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld; Wald, Harkrader and Ross; and Cohan,
Simpson, Cowlishaw, Aranza & Wulff, L.L.P. At this time, Mr. Aranza has a
full-time schedule devoted to airport operations and the development of further
military installation/base opportunities, which will continue for the
foreseeable future.