Fresh renderings: Midwood Smokehouse will expand to Charlotte Douglas International Airport

What’s happening: The Charlotte barbecue joint will replace Stock Car Cafe in Concourse B between gates B8 and B10.

• Midwood Smokehouse should open at the airport next year, Frank Scibelli, FS Food Group CEO told Axios.

Why it matters: Airports serve as ambassadors for their city, and the food they choose to serve is a big part of that.

• It will be a “very good representation of Midwood,” Scibelli told me.

Menu: There will be a grab-and-go section, as well as a sit-down dining. Expect Midwood’s pork sandwiches, burgers and tacos.

• The menu is a little more airport friendly, Scibelli said, but they plan to smoke meat there. Don’t expect to take a slab of ribs on a flight with you, though.
• There will also be breakfast and brunch dishes on the menu.

Details: The 3,675-square-foot space will seat 120 people: 54 at the bar and 66 in the dining room. There will also be six accessible seats.

• Expect a design style of classic BBQ meets modern, with clean wood over distressed steel.

• Construction will include a new façade facing travelers as they move through the concourse, plus a new kitchen and bar.

What’s next: Midwood Smokehouse’s location on Central Avenue in Plaza Midwood is expanding. They leased part of the space previously occupied by Slate, which will give them an additional 1,600 square feet, allowing for an improved kitchen and dish area.

• Additionally, Midwood Smokehouse has a Raleigh location opening later this year. Scibelli said to expect it in either November or December. He’s focused on “logical, continuous growth” after that in places like suburban Charlotte, Greensboro, Winston-Salem and South Carolina.