MORRISVILLE - Cathy and Mike McKillip were early for their flight out of Raleigh-Durham International Airport's cramped Terminal C on Saturday, so they strolled next door to check out the new terminal that will replace it in a couple of weeks.

They liked what they saw beneath the high, undulating roofline of Terminal 2.

"Finally, this looks to me like a real airport," said Cathy, 45, gazing around the passenger concourse. "It'll give visitors a better impression that Raleigh is a real city. And it'll be easier to get in and out."

More than 7,000 people turned out for Terminal 2's open house and a chance to check out the shops and restaurants on its quarter-mile concourse.

They lined up to sip blackberry wine and blueberry-pomegranate vitamin water. They sampled clam chowder, tortilla soup, chicken and chili.

RDU will open the $570 million terminal in two phases. On Oct. 26, Terminal 2 will become the new home for airlines now flying out of Terminal C -- American, United, Air Canada and Charter Express. Delta Airlines will join them in Terminal 2 on Nov. 9.

Delta's current home, Terminal A, will be renamed Terminal 1. Terminal C, with its fading red roof, will be demolished to make way for the completion of Terminal 2 in early 2011.

At its first public event Saturday, the new terminal earned mostly good reviews.

"Architecturally, it's pretty impressive," said Ian Arcuri, 43, of Cary. "I like the exposed wooden beams. I like the natural light. I like the exposed elevators, the stainless steel."

Joe Ayscue of Raleigh tempered his response.

"It's beautiful as far as terminals go," said Ayscue, 36. "It's like hangar-chic, with some nice touches. I mean, it's an airport, after all. But it's an improvement."

"It doesn't really seem like an airport," said his wife, Christy, 35. "It's more like a mall."

In its first phase, Terminal 2 will have 19 gates and 25 shops and restaurants. Visitors said they were pleased to see all those retail choices.

"You have a spa. You have the 42nd Street Oyster Bar here now. You have the Borders bookstore; so you have more options," said Gemma Harris, 66, of Durham, an American Airlines retiree.

"Sometimes when you're packing for a trip, you forget to eat," said her friend Margo Sammerson, 43, of Raleigh. "So with the choices now, like California Pizza, I can just park the car and come on in. And I know on my way to the gate, I can get something."

Get $150+ in coupons in every Sunday N&O. Click here for convenient home delivery.