Put away the tissues and cancel that dramatic “moving to Austin” plan — Whataburger and Campisi’s have officially reopened at Dallas Love Field and order has been restored in the universe.
The two beloved eateries, which vanished from the terminal back in January due to construction, are now slinging burgers and pizza once again.
In a moment that could only be described as Texas-level dramatic (and delicious), Whataburger and Campisi’s celebrated their triumphant comeback with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 9, smack dab in the middle of the terminal’s main food court.
According to Gilbert Aranza of Star Concessions, a Dallas-based company that’s been in the business of feeding hungry travelers for more than two decades, the new and improved Whataburger at Love Field now features kiosks for ordering, which means you can order your Sweet & Spicy Bacon Burger without having to make eye contact after a red-eye flight — and you’ll get your food fast.
“You’re going to get your burger a lot quicker than before. It used to take fifteen minutes to get people on their way, and the lines were long,” said Aranza, “but you can now place your order at the kiosk, walk to the Whataburger counter, and be on your way to boarding a flight in under eight minutes.”
Over at Campisi’s, the mood was equally celebratory. The pizza, the pasta, the unmistakable scent of garlic in the air — it’s all back. Even the heir to the Italian eatery throne, David Campisi, showed up for the ribbon cutting ceremony.
“When my family came over from Italy on a steam ship engine in the early 1900s, I’m just so blessed that they came to the city of Dallas,” said Campisi. “(The Campisis) have been paying taxes in Dallas for a long time — way before you Gilbert,” he quipped with Aranza. “We were in the grocery store business and paying taxes since the early 1900s.”
Of course, while we’re all basking in the warm, cheesy afterglow of this culinary comeback, Dallas officials where there to remind us that this is just chapter one in the airport’s ongoing renovations. Their master plan, Love What’s Next, revealed last month, is touted as the largest capital investment in Love Field’s history. The Love Field Expansion Airport Program (LEAP) outlines a six-year construction timeline covering 14 infrastructure development projects. Construction is expected to roll out in phases starting in 2027 — so don’t toss those noise-canceling headphones just yet.
“The LEAP capital improvement initiative marks the most significant capital investment in Love Field’s history,” said Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert in a recent statement. “This initiative will help position the airport to meet rising passenger demand.”
But for now, let’s savor this victory. Whataburger is back. Campisi’s is open. Your pre-flight burger and pizza ritual is restored. Welcome back, old friends. We missed you more than we miss our luggage at baggage claim.
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