Brian Petrow, URW’s Vice President ORD and Airport Operations, stated: “Bringing a beloved local brand like The Dearborn to Terminal 5 is a perfect example of our mission in action. Celebrated for capturing the spirit of one of Chicago’s most vibrant neighborhoods with a diverse menu to offer something for every traveler, The Dearborn also exemplifies the kind of inclusive growth we strive for—a local female-owned business in partnership with a local, minority operator. We’re proud to support the CDA’s vision and excited to help shape the next chapter of the terminal’s expansion.”
The restaurant is operated by HOST AIR ORD FB, which is a joint venture between John Wober—President of Airbrands—and HMSHost. Airbrands is fully certified as an Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE).
"HMSHost, URW, the City of Chicago, and the Lawless sisters embody the partnerships that make this airport and city special," said John Wober. "Opening The Dearborn at O’Hare is especially meaningful as the son of parents who first touched down here from Argentina."
Clodagh Lawless commented on their new location: “Growing The Dearborn into this incredible new location is a dream come true and a defining moment for our journey as restaurateurs. Since opening our doors in the Loop, we’ve poured our hearts into creating a space that reflects the soul of Chicago—its people, its flavors, and its hospitality. To now bring that same spirit to the international stage at O’Hare is deeply meaningful. We are proud to share what we’ve built with travelers from all over the world and to continue expanding the reach of our family’s story and Chicago’s dynamic food culture.”
Amy Lawless added: “We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to showcase everything The Dearborn stands for—heartfelt hospitality, delicious food, and a sense of community—right in the heart of one of the world’s busiest airports. As a female-owned, immigrant-founded restaurant, this expansion not only represents growth for our business but also the power of inclusive progress and partnership. We’re honored to represent Chicago in this exciting new chapter at Terminal 5 and are thrilled to work alongside our partners to deliver a warm, welcoming experience to every traveler who walks through our doors.”
The menu includes items such as Fish & Chips featured on Beat Bobby Flay; Midwest Fried Chicken Wings; DB Smash Burger made with dry-aged CDK Farms beef; Buffalo Chicken Sandwich; Japanese Curry Poutine; Dearborn Protein Bowl; tavern-style pizza; among other options.
Longtime Executive Chef Aaron Cuschieri has been promoted to Chef Partner as part of this expansion. He will lead menu development at O’Hare while continuing his role at The Dearborn's original location.
O'Hare International Airport serves more than 100 million passengers each year across its two airports combined (O'Hare and Midway), connecting travelers worldwide through over 260 nonstop destinations including 76 international cities. This activity supports about $70 billion annually in economic output for nine counties around Chicago (https://www.flychicago.com/business/about/pages/default.aspx).
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield operates shopping centers across Europe and North America under brands such as Westfield (https://www.urw.com/en/website~//media/Corporate~Media/Files~Shared/2024-Results-and-Annual-Report/URW_2024_Universal_Registration_Document.pdf), providing retail experiences within major urban hubs like Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), JFK International Airport (JFK), as well as O'Hare.
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