ABOUT ASCEND ABQ

Ascend ABQ is the Albuquerque International Sunport’s small business concessions program, created to expand the variety of retail offerings available to travelers while opening a real pathway for local businesses into the airport concessions industry. The program showcases unique, culturally significant products and services from small businesses ready to grow in the airport environment. Ascend ABQ is primarily a retail program, and select concepts featuring pre-packaged and pre-prepared food may also be considered.

Through Ascend ABQ, both evolving and established small businesses gain a short-term, low-risk opportunity to operate a Retail Merchandising Unit (RMU) inside the Sunport. Participants market their company, brand, and products to thousands of travelers every day and build relationships across the airport concessions industry — connections that can open doors to other U.S. airports, grow e-commerce sales, and establish wholesale accounts with other concessionaires.

Before opening for business, every selected concessionaire completes Boot Camp: a two- to three-week, in-person business development training covering the key success factors, industry best practices, and business fundamentals for operating in an airport environment.

Ascend ABQ is operated by Ever-Evolving Consulting (EEC), competitively selected through the City of Albuquerque’s RFP process to manage the program on behalf of the Sunport.

We strongly encourage small, local, and regional New Mexico businesses to apply.

APPLICATION PROCESS 

If you’re a vendor interested in participating in the Ascend ABQ program, submit your application online at https://abqsunport.com/small-business-program/.
We are now accepting applications for the Ascend ABQ Concessionaire Class of 2026/2027, which begins in September 2026. Submit your application by August 01, 2026 to be considered for interviews for the 2026/2027 program. Applications received after this date will be reviewed for future program starts. Submitting an application is the first step in our evaluation process and does not guarantee an Ascend ABQ Operating Agreement. We recommend including a business plan, color images or a catalog of your
merchandise, and any other information that helps us evaluate your fit for the program.

What to Expect After You Apply

1. Application Review — The program management firm will contact you to complete a full application review.
2. On-Site Business Review — Qualified applicants are scheduled for an on-site visit to their current business location.
3. In-Person Interview — Applicants who maintain qualifications through review are invited to an in-person interview.

Applicants not selected are invited to attend a business outreach event that coaches them on preparing for the next recruitment campaign, or may be listed as a backup concessionaire for future openings. 

LEASING TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Selected participants sign an Ascend ABQ Operating Agreement (“the Agreement”), which specifies the leasing terms and operating conditions each participant must follow, including all leasing and financial obligations related to the RMU.

Leases run a minimum of three (3) months and up to twelve (12) months. Leases may be extended beyond one year based on sales generation, profitability, lease compliance, and other performance factors.

Ascend ABQ operates on an annual cohort model: existing concessionaires and new applicants are evaluated each year, and a new class of concessionaires is selected for each program run, usually beginning in September.

OPERATING AGREEMENT INVESTMENT REQUIREMENTS

Qualified applicants should be prepared to finance the following list of items, which all make up the operating agreement term contract: Financial assistance referrals to banks and small business leading firms is available upon request.

• Operating Capital – Cash reserves to run your airport business for the first three months covering business needs such as payroll, product inventory, product purchases, insurance, transportation and rent fees.
• Security Deposit – An advance payment due at operating agreement execution averages two months’ rent, calculated using sales projections.
• Rent Payments – Rent on average can range depending which area of the airport the store is located; rates range from 10% and higher of gross sales and is paid the following month on the 15th of the month. Rent fees can be higher if your business has sales exceeding $500K annual sales projection.
• Merchandising Fee – An initial payment of $1K covers store signage, product planogram assistance and initial store merchandise set up.
• Distribution Fee – Estimated to be $208 a month. This fee funds warehouse, freight delivery and trash removal service.
• Co-Op Kiosks Only – Each of the four concessionaires are requested to provide a cash reserve fee of $2000, to provide a payroll reserve account for supporting sales staff hired to operate this store concept.

Applications are welcomed on an ongoing basis. Please check the website for updates, as dates are subject to change.