Extended local and luxury brand line-up named for New York JFK Airport Terminal 8

USA. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, American Airlines and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield today announced 24 additional brands that will feature in the Food Hall and duty free zone at the expanded John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Terminal 8.

All leasable space has now been awarded at T8 under the US$125 million commercial redevelopment programme, with concessions already starting to open.

The expanded terminal will highlight many New York City and Queens brands alongside global luxury labels.

The Boroughs Food Hall, operated by a joint venture among MERA US and small businesses – New York City-based Tsion Enterprises, Texas-based Food Cycle and Massachusetts-based South River Partners – will deliver a curated food hall offering spanning local specialities, street food, upscale dining, health-conscious options and comfort food under one roof.

Avolta brand Dufry, which runs duty free, is bringing together a collection of luxury boutiques and replicating an open-air shop environment inspired by NYC neighbourhood shopping and markets. Duty-free partners include Queens-based The Nourish Spot, New York-based Sullivan Hernandez Group, Atlanta-based Kellee Communications and Florida-based Tarra Enterprises.

The Port Authority and URW said the addition of local brands announced today, alongside the five small businesses participating in the Retail Accelerator programme announced at the end of 2024, means the participation of New York City-based operators and brands is now over 50%, with 15 of these new to airports.

Two of the newly announced concessions will be operated by graduates of the Port Authority’s Institute of Concessions, a programme that was launched in 2023 to help small, local business owners learn the skills necessary to compete for opportunities at JFK.

The Boroughs food hall lineup features:

• Cobblestones, a well-known local, Queens bar that serves craft beers, overlooking the new entertainment and activation area known as ‘The Show.’
• Black Star Bakery & Cafe, with five locations across NYC, including Long Island City and Queens
• Mito, with six locations in New York City, including Forest Hills and Queens, will offer modern Japanese dishes including grab-and-go, sushi and more.
• Naya, a vibrant Middle Eastern concept taking off in New York City, will feature its ‘create your own bowl’ concept.
• Flavortown Kitchen, a showcase for celebrity Chef Guy Fieri.
• BKLYN Blend, a juice bar and health food restaurant in Brooklyn and a Port Authority Institute of Concessions graduate.
• Bagel Boss will serve its authentic New York-style bagels.
• Le Petit Gourmet, of Garden City, offers a selection of high-quality foods in its culinary experience.

The Avolta lineup includes:

• 12th St. Market, inspired by New York City’s Meatpacking District, will offer products from local artisans, souvenirs and treats, along with liquor & tobacco.
• Beauty on 5^th will feature boutiques housing perfume & cosmetics brands including Dior, Lancôme, Estée Lauder, Kiehl’s, La Mer, YSL and Charlotte Tilbury.
• The Park @ T8, designed to mirror the lush landscape of Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, will offer fragrances, skincare products, confectionery and premium wines & spirits.
• BKLYN Shopping specialises in fragrances, skincare products, confectionery, wines & spirits in a compact walkthrough setting that draws its design inspiration from Brooklyn’s brownstone buildings and the Brooklyn Bridge.
• Luxury boutiques will feature brands such as Longchamp, Marc Jacobs, Lacoste, BOSS, TAG Heuer, Breitling and Montblanc, along with sunglasses from Avolta’s Suncatcher store.
• The Connoisseur Collection offers a curated selection of liquor & tobacco products. The hybrid space will also be home to T8’s speakeasy, Blinded Tiger, a nod to New York’s best hidden bars and a first for JFK.
• The Collection will feature fashion jewellery and watches from brands like Swarovski, NORQAIN, Oris, Citizen and Bulova.
• Pre-Loved Luxury will carry upcycled leather goods and fine watches.

Other bespoke commercial experiences include:

• Bowery Meat Company, the celebrated New York City ‘meat-centric’ restaurant from chef Josh Capon and restaurateur John McDonald, “redefines the modern American steakhouse experience”.
• Neir’s Tavern, a Queens landmark known for its classic American pub fare and rich history as one of the oldest operating bars in NYC.
• Singas Pizza will offer pizza, pasta, salads and sandwiches. The Greek style pizzeria first opened its doors in Elmhurst, Queens in 1967. Sky Corp CEO and Singas Pizza operator Manish Chadha is a graduate of the Port Authority’s Institute of Concessions.
• Minority-owned small business M&R Concessions is behind the dual concept Dunkin’ and Jimmy John’s in the arrivals area.
• Susan Druckman, a fully woman-owned small business, is introducing three currency exchanges in arrivals, Concourses B and C.

“From the outset, our goal in building a new JFK International Airport has been to create passenger facilities that are among the best in the world,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “Terminal 8’s new lineup featuring food & beverage concessions and shopping experiences from around the region as well as notable global brands, will create a passenger experience that is uniquely New York and best in class.”

“Locally-owned, iconic concessions alongside national brands will create a sense of place at Terminal 8 that is unique to our region and a passenger experience that is world class,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “Across the region, we are creating airports that express the creativity and vitality of our region through concessions, art and architecture.”

“This bold lineup embodies our commitment to creating destinations that bring together the best cuisines and shopping venues reflective of the borough of Queens and New York City, iconic global brands, and unique products, experiences and amenities to benefit our customers and our communities,” said Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Vice President, JFK, Ian Carter. “Thank you to the Port Authority and American Airlines for giving us the opportunity to redefine the travel experience.”

“We are excited to transform the food hall and create an all-new duty free to modernise the customer experience at JFK Terminal 8,” said American Airlines Vice President of Corporate Real Estate Amanda Zhang. “The additional brands announced today continue to showcase American’s partnership with The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and URW to bring the culture and community of Queens, New York City and New York State to Terminal 8.”

“We are honoured and thrilled to introduce The Boroughs Food Hall at JFK Terminal 8 as our newest concessionary project,” said MERA US Division President Rafael Aguirre. “For this innovative space, we´ll bring together a curated selection of culinary offerings from renowned local and global brands, ensuring every traveller can enjoy fresh, high-quality meals while on the go.

“As we continue to transform JFK into a world-class gateway, the food hall is a testament to our commitment to providing passengers with both exceptional convenience and a taste of the diverse flavours that New York has to offer.”

“We have an ambitious vision to redefine the duty-free shopping experience at Terminal 8 and are proud that The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, and American Airlines share that vision,” said Avolta North America President and CEO Steve Johnson.

“This is a pivotal moment in JFK’s evolution, so it is an honour to be selected as the partner that will transform T8. Combined with our recently awarded contracts to bring new travel convenience, specialty retail, and food & beverage concepts to the terminal, this expanded partnership will allow us to design a world-class travel experience across all lines of Avolta’s business.” ✈