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Hayden — Trini Riley has seen a lot of changes at the Yampa Valley Regional Airport in Hayden since she opened her snack bar there in 1995.

"It has been neat to see the changes," Riley said Thursday morning, shortly before the big daily lunch rush at her new airport restaurant, HDN Paradise Grill. "I'm excited that we've made progress. We've been due for it for a long time."

Construction is nearly complete on the second phase of a three-phase expansion at the airport. The passenger waiting area now is large and spacious, the parking lots are paved and there is a new parking area for heavy Boeing-757 jets that fly into Hayden during the ski season. Passengers appreciate the improvements, but many had other things on their minds Thursday before noon. They were hungry and some still needed to pick up a souvenir before heading home.

The expansion has created new retail opportunities at the airport, which is owned and operated by Routt County. YVRA still does not have a Ferrari souvenir stand and a Wolfgang Puck restaurant like Denver International Airport has, but retail operations at YVRA have been expanded to provide more goods and services that travelers need. The vendors also are more accessible to passengers.

"That was a real unexpected plus to what happened (with the expansion)," said Routt County Manager Tom Sullivan, adding that future retail opportunities would likely be examined when planning the third phase of the expansion.

The additional retail space is a source for additional revenue for the airport, which expects to operate in the black beginning next year, said YVRA terminal manager Ann Copeland.

"It's not only important for passengers : but it's a good revenue generator for us as an airport," Copeland said.

In 2005, the airport's cut of retail sales was about $89,000, more than what was collected from parking revenue. Sales from 2006 have not been compiled yet, but significant increases are expected from sales from last December. The vendors essentially lease the space, and give the airport between 8 and 15 percent of their revenues.

More revenue also is good for the town of Hayden, which collects sales tax generated at the airport. About 40 percent of Hayden's sales tax revenues come from the airport. About half of Hayden's revenue, excluding grants, comes from sales tax.

This winter, Riley opened HDN Paradise Grill, a Western aviation-themed restaurant with 15 seats at the bar and 107 seats in the dining area. It totals 2,200 square feet of space.

"This has pretty much been a dream I've had for a long time," Riley said, adding she hopes the restaurant will become popular with locals. She can validate for parking. She wants to keep the restaurant open year-round. It is open for dinner Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

She said she has been unexpectedly busy, but it made sense because the airport was due for a restaurant. Between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., all the tables will turn over four or five times, she said.

"They get a lot of traffic because people want to have a meal and watch airplanes," said YVRA Manager Dave Ruppel.

Passengers have time for a sit-down meal, Riley said, because they are advised to get to the airport early.

If people don't have time to sit down, they can go through security and grab something at the Hot Dog in Paradise snack bar in the passenger waiting area. It still is under construction, but food is available. It is a big change from the old passenger waiting area, where people waiting for their flights were limited to vending machines.

There is another retail component in the waiting area, but that is temporary until The Hangar Gifts shop can move into the new ticketing area. Airport officials are planning to have that area completed by the end of the month.

Ben and Cathy Gero have owned The Hangar Gifts gift shop for 10 years.

"It's a very lucrative situation," Ben Gero said. "It's exclusive. Once you get there and you haven't bought your gift, you're going to buy it from me."

In 2005, Copeland said each passenger who went through the airport spent an average of $2.34 at the gift shop and she thinks that amount will increase with the new location.

"I think he's going to see a huge increase," she said.

Gero agrees. There are more passengers going through the airport, but the expansion is making it a better experience for passengers.

"It's a thousand percent better than it was last year, and it's just going to get better," Gero said. "It's a better feeling and it means better business."

Ulrich Salzgeber is on the Yampa Valley Airport Com-mission, which serves as an advisory group to YVRA. He said the commission would continue looking at retail opportunities. Revenue-generating additions could include a gas station and hotel or massage stations in the waiting areas.

"It's something we are very cognizant of, and we are attempting to explore the retail opportunities," Salzgeber said. "It's a source of revenue."

- To reach Matt Stensland, call 871-4210

or e-mail mstensland@steamboatpilot.com