New Concessions Lineup of Iconic Brands and New York Favorites Powered by Diverse and Local Businesses at JFK Terminal 8

This is a rendering of the proposed new space in Terminal 8. Credit: URW.

JFK Terminal 8 to Host First U.S. Airport Locations of Eataly and Peach Palace by Momofuku, Plus NYC Favorites Black Tap, Alidoro and Harlem Chocolate Factory

21 Brands Powered by 13 Local and Diverse Businesses Coming to Recently Expanded and Modernized Terminal, with Additional Selections to Come

Creates Uniquely New York Sense Of Place with Locally Owned and Operated Concessions Alongside Highly Sought-After Brands

More than 60 New Concessions Will Open in Phases Through 2025

Terminal 8 Retail Program Photos and Renderings are Available Here

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, in partnership with American Airlines and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) Airports, today announced 21 new dining, retail, entertainment, and amenity brands powered by 13 local and diverse businesses are among the first selected as part of the $125 million commercial redevelopment program at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)’s Terminal 8. The iconic U.S. airport lineup features popular powerhouse brands such as Eataly and Momofuku alongside beloved New York local favorites Black Tap, Alidoro, Harlem Chocolate Factory and many more.

The commercial redevelopment program by JFK T8 Innovation Partners, a joint venture led by URW and certified minority-business enterprise (MBE) equity partner Phoenix Infrastructure Group, follows the $400 million expansion of Terminal 8. Completed in November 2022, the newly expanded and modernized Terminal 8 is a component of the Port Authority’s $19 billion redevelopment of JFK, which prioritizes world-class dining and retail alongside inspiring public art in every new or modernized terminal.

The Port Authority and the airport’s private terminal developers and operators are working closely with the JFK Redevelopment Community Advisory Council to ensure that this historic investment at JFK generates economic and educational opportunities for the communities surrounding the airport. The council, which is led by U.S. Rep. Gregory W. Meeks and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr., has prioritized participation by minority- and women-owned business enterprises (MWBE) in the overall JFK redevelopment project. To date, that effort has set a New York state record of $2.3 billion in contract awards to MWBE firms in the redevelopment of JFK, with much more to come.

The Port Authority, American Airlines, URW and the advisory council have engaged in a variety of initiatives to expand and increase participation by local, diverse and disadvantaged businesses in the airport’s concessions program, one of which is the Institute of Concessions (IOC). Launched in 2023, the IOC is a training and mentoring program designed to equip local and diverse businesses with the skills and competencies to compete for and successfully operate at the world-class JFK International Airport. IOC graduates are expected to be among the next round of businesses chosen to participate in the Terminal 8 concessions program.

An emphasis on locally owned and diverse businesses will create economic opportunities for the community and provide travelers with a unique New York sense of place at Terminal 8. The completely redesigned terminal will provide passengers with more than 60 new concessions along with a performance space and new digitally enabled experiences for customers of American and its partner airlines. 

For Terminal 8’s concessions program, the Port Authority and URW engaged in extensive community outreach to recruit local and diverse businesses, in partnership with local elected officials and community partners. URW Airports enhanced participation by airport-concession disadvantaged-business enterprises (ACDBE) by pairing local operators with first-to-the-airport brands and experienced ACDBE operators and by supporting local emerging entrepreneurs seeking ACDBE certification. Today’s announcement represents a 47 percent ACDBE participation, which puts the program on track to dramatically exceed the 30 percent project participation goal.

Showcasing New York’s World-Renowned Culinary Scene
A first at any U.S. airport, David Chang’s Peach Palace by Momofuku will serve up Asian-American cuisine and drinks. New York favorite Alidoro, operated by ACDBE M&R Concessions, will open its first airport restaurant providing specialty sandwiches to its fans.

Other local tastes of New York will include the award-winning Black Tap Burgers’ Black Tap Singles & Doubles, along with Black Tap Bar and its culinary take on chicken, Tender Crush. NY Creperie offers a selection of savory and sweet crepes featuring classic favorites alongside innovative creations. Famous for its delicious baked goods, New York-based Zaro’s Family Bakery strives to make life a little sweeter with its Old World-style recipes for passengers. Dos Toros Taqueria will bring its Mission-style taqueria vibe with fresh, flavorful ingredients. International tastes of New York include the family-owned New York-based Caribbean quick-service restaurant Golden Krust, serving up the authentic bold flavors of the islands. 

Global brands will complement the local offerings, such as the first U.S. airport location of Eataly, which will wow passengers with a taste of Italy at its full-service restaurant and adjoining wine bar serving Italian classics such as antipasti, pasta and Neapolitan pizza. Nearby space will include a café with Eataly grab-and-go favorites and coffee, plus a curated retail selection. Other internationally known brands include Pret A Manger, Shake Shack, Dunkin’ and Starbucks.

Delivering the Best in Local Retail, Tech, Travel Essentials and Amenities
Passengers looking for the latest in unique New York-centric gifts will be delighted to find the first airport outposts of Harlem Chocolate Factory and the iconic I Love NY from Times Square. Dear NYC, will feature specially curated collections that represent the city through products from local makers and entrepreneurs.

Favorite tech brands and products are the spotlight of iPorte offering tech needs, must-haves and the latest releases. Travel essentials will be easy to find with five Hudson shops throughout the terminal carrying a variety of magazines, snacks and beverages, travel and convenience necessities, local souvenirs, electronics and more.

Terminal 8 also will offer the best-in-class amenities, including the premiere video lounge Gameway and Minute Suites, exclusive private suites for passengers.

New concessions will open in phases in 2024 and 2025 with more brand announcements coming soon. URW is committed to lowering the barriers of entry to ensure the commercial program reflects the rich diversity of Queens. Certified ACDBE firms must meet eligibility standards established by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), including ownership of at least 51 percent by a socially or economically disadvantaged individual and management and daily business operations controlled by at least one of the socially and economically disadvantaged owners.

Redeveloping JFK Airport in Lockstep with the Local Community 
In 2018, the JFK Redevelopment Community Advisory Council was formed. It is co-chaired by U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, and is composed of elected officials, community boards, business and nonprofit organizations, civic organizations, and clergy leaders from the targeted local communities of southeast Queens, southwest Queens, the Rockaways and western portions of Nassau County.

Since its inception, the council has been working with the Port Authority to expand community outreach efforts and develop community-focused programs, ensuring that this ambitious project solicits ongoing feedback from local stakeholders and provides meaningful opportunities for local businesses, MWBEs, students and jobseekers. This includes programming to advance the Port Authority’s commitment to a 30 percent MWBE contracting goal in all categories of work, and a special focus on opportunities for local businesses across all aspects of the JFK redevelopment program, including terminal projects, which will be built by union labor under a full project-labor agreement. Other community development initiatives prioritized by the council focus on job opportunities and workforce development programs for residents, small business outreach and development, and educational programming for local students.

Transforming JFK Into a World-Class Global Gateway
In January 2017, the JFK Vision Plan was announced to transform JFK into the world-class airport that New Yorkers deserve. The vision plan provides a strategic framework for the Port Authority and its partners to completely redevelop, modify and expand existing facilities and infrastructure. The $9.5 billion development of a state-of-the-art New Terminal One that will anchor the airport’s south side broke ground in September 2022. A new $4.2 billion Terminal 6, which will connect seamlessly with Terminal 5 to create an anchor terminal on the airport’s north side, broke ground in February 2023. The $1.5 billion expansion of Terminal 4, led by Delta Air Lines and JFK International Air Terminal (JFKIAT), is substantially complete. Additionally, the $400 million expansion of Terminal 8, led by American Airlines, which operates the terminal, was completed in November 2022.

All of the privately financed terminal projects combined with the Port Authority’s roadway, parking and infrastructure projects represent a $19 billion transformation of JFK and an extraordinary series of public-private partnerships. The Port Authority’s capital investment of $3.9 billion is leveraging private investment at a rate of nearly four to one when taking into account the full private investment of more than $15 billion that has been committed to the four projects comprising the full redevelopment of JFK.

About Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield is an owner, developer and operator of sustainable, high-quality real estate assets in the most dynamic cities in Europe and the United States. The group operates 71 shopping centers in 12 countries, including 39 that carry the iconic Westfield brand. These centers attract over 900 million visits annually and provide a unique platform for retailers and brands to connect with consumers. URW also has a portfolio of high-quality offices, 10 convention and exhibition venues in Paris, and a €2.9 billion development pipeline of mainly mixed-use assets. Its €50 billion portfolio is 86 percent in retail, 6 percent in offices, 5 percent in convention and exhibition venues, and 2 percent in services (as of June 30, 2024). URW is a committed partner to major cities on urban regeneration projects, through both mixed-use development and the retrofitting of buildings to industry-leading sustainability standards. These commitments are enhanced by the group’s Better Places plan, which strives to make a positive environmental, social and economic impact on the cities and communities where URW operates. URW’s stapled shares are listed on Euronext Paris (Ticker: URW), with a secondary listing in Australia through Chess Depositary Interests. The group benefits from a BBB+ rating from Standard & Poor’s and from a Baa2 rating from Moody’s. For more information, please visit www.urw.com

About Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Airports
A division of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW), for more than 25 years, URW Airports has leveraged its expertise as a premier retail developer and operator to deliver seamless journeys by creating uplifting retail travel experiences that put people at the heart of everything. Partnering with airports and airlines, across some of the world’s busiest airports, including Los Angeles International (LAX), Chicago O’Hare International (ORD), and John F. Kennedy International (JFK), URW Airports has a proven track record of delivering elevated travel experiences that drive commercial revenue above U.S. benchmarks. Learn more at www.urwairports.com. 

About American Airlines Group
To Care for People on Life’s Journey®. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL and the company’s stock is included in the S&P 500. Learn more about what’s happening at American by visiting news.aa.com and connect with American at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state agency that builds, operates, and maintains many of the most important transportation and trade infrastructure assets in the country. For over a century, the agency’s network of major airports; critical bridges, tunnels and bus terminals; a commuter rail line; and the busiest seaport on the East Coast has been among the most vital in the country – transporting hundreds of millions of people and moving essential goods into and out of the region. The Port Authority also owns and manages the 16-acre World Trade Center campus, which today welcomes tens of thousands of office workers and millions of annual visitors. The agency’s historic $37 billion 10-year capital plan includes unprecedented transformation of the region’s three major airports – LaGuardia, Newark Liberty and JFK – as well as an array of other new and upgraded assets, including the $2 billion renovation of the 90-year-old George Washington Bridge. The Port Authority’s annual budget of $9.3 billion includes no tax revenue from either the states of New York or New Jersey or from the City of New York. The agency raises the necessary funds for the improvement, construction or acquisition of its facilities primarily on its own credit. For more information, visit www.panynj.gov or check out the Now Arriving blog.