USA. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and JFKIAT have launched their ‘street market’ programme at John F. Kennedy International Airport Terminal 4 with the opening of two local food & beverage concepts.
Villa Russo Café and Brooklyn Tea & Market are the first joint-venture partnerships between HMSHost and selected local and diverse businesses under the initiative, following a competitive selection process aimed at expanding local participation in T4 concessions.
Queens-based Italian-American operator Villa Russo Café was founded in 1954 as a pizzeria by Italian immigrants and has since grown into a major event and catering business.
Second-generation Owner George Russo participated in the Port Authority’s Institute of Concessions as part of the wider JFK redevelopment strategy. The T4 café offers Italian-inspired grab-and-go food based on family recipes.
Russo said: “Since 1954, my family’s business has been a huge part of the vibrant Queens community, hiring from its diverse workforce and leaving our culinary mark on residents. As we enter a global market at JFK T4, we are eager to offer an international audience our local and authentic Italian-American menu.
“To think that my father and uncle followed their dreams by opening a small pizzeria in Queens, now to their next generation operating at one of the country’s busiest air terminals is a moving belief in the reality of the American dream.”
Brooklyn Tea & Market becomes the first tea-focused retail concept at JFK and the first Black-owned tea brand to operate in any US airport. Founded by Jamila and Alfonso Wright, the brand operates in Brooklyn and Atlanta and is rooted in Caribbean heritage, with a focus on wellness and tea education.
From its T4 location the store offers 11 signature teas curated exclusively for airport travellers, selected from a wider portfolio of more than 150 teas and herbs.
Jamila Wright commented: “Brooklyn Tea, in partnership with JFKIAT and HMSHost, will become the first Black-owned beverage brand in any airport in the country, and we are honoured to be a part of this history and represent what’s possible when diverse businesses are given the opportunity to lead.
“Working together with JFKIAT and HMSHost to prioritise the importance of diverse voices and businesses has been an incredible experience, and we look forward to what the future has in store.”
Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole said: “We are pleased to welcome local businesses to JFK as part of our aim to reflect the character of the region the airport serves. New York and New Jersey’s diversity is central to their global reputation for food and hospitality, and we want travellers to experience that throughout their journey.
“We look forward to more local operators joining JFK as redevelopment continues through 2026.”
JFKIAT Chief Executive Officer Roel Huinink commented, “These openings underline our commitment to delivering an authentic New York City experience at Terminal 4 while supporting small businesses.
“Brooklyn Tea & Market and Villa Russo Café add distinctive hospitality and local character, offering passengers a genuine taste of the city while in transit.”
The openings mark the start of a broader collaboration between JFKIAT and HMSHost to integrate local businesses into T4 concessions. Under the programme, seven additional partners have become equity participants in a ten-unit concessions contract, supported by HMSHost mentorship with the potential to operate standalone airport concessions in the future.
HMSHost Vice President of Business Development Anthony Alessi said: “We’re thrilled and honoured to bring Brooklyn Tea & Market and Villa Russo Café to JFK Terminal 4. Both local family-owned favourites capture the flavour, traditions, and spirit that define the JFK community.
“Travellers can now enjoy an authentic taste of local culture from businesses that have long been part of the city’s fabric.”
JFKIAT has operated Terminal 4 for more than 20 years and has invested US$37 million through its 4GOOD programme to support locally owned businesses as part of the terminal’s ongoing redevelopment. 
