Lambert Airport's Concourse C Reopening Monday

Just shy of the one year anniversary of the that ripped through North St. Louis County, Lambert St. Louis International Airport will re-open the C-Concourse Monday.

The airport had previously planned renovations set to begin, but the concourse turned into one of the hardest hit parts of the airport when an EF-4 tornado tore a 22 mile path across North St. Louis County on April 22, 2011.

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The concourse was closed on April 22 of last year after sustaining heavy roof, window and interior damage from the tornado, wind and water. It will open at exactly 4 a.m. on Monday.

"The repairs and renovations have made the C Concourse look better than ever," said St. Louis City Mayor Francis Slay, in a statement. "I'm confident that these repairs and upgrades will make traveling through Lambert International Airport an even more enjoyable experience."

Increase in Airport Business

The renovations will bring the airport up-to-date as the concourse is now lined with new shops and restaurants making it more appealing and competitive with other international airports. Could this mean more airlines may have a vested interest in the location?

Local brewer Schlafly, which has The Schlafly Taproom on Locust, is moving onto the concourse with the Beer Bar and Grill. At one point, Schlafly had a location on the D-Concourse.

Starbucks will return to an expanded location, along with a new tenant, La Taenade Mediterranean Café.

Retail is also not lacking. Brooks Brothers is returning along with electronics and multi-media retailer, Bookmark Inmotion, which will open later in the year. CNBC and a travel mart will also be re-open for sales beginning April 2.

Aesthetically, there's a new tiled corridor, brighter ceilings, oval “cloud” lighting, fully renovated restrooms, new signage, digital directory maps and five sets of art glass screens local artists created.

Airline Flip-Flop

During the nearly one-year closure, C-Concourse airlines operated out of the B and D-Concourses. According to the airport, those concourses will close after final flight operations Sunday night. All airlines will move their operations overnight to their home gates:

• American Airlines will operate from C6, C8, C10 and C12.
• Frontier Airlines will operate from C15 and C23.
• Cape Air will operate from C5 and C7.

In all there will be 11 gates open for business starting Monday. The airport's insurance and FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, have covered nearly all the cost of the renovations and repairs.