The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and JFKIAT, the operator of Terminal 4 at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), have announced the openings of two local businesses that offer food and beverages reflecting New York City’s diverse culinary scene.
One business, Villa Russo Café, is a Queens-based graduate of the Port Authority’s specialised training program intended to increase the number of local and diverse businesses that are part of the concessions program at JFK.
Villa Russo Café and Brooklyn Tea & Market represent the first wave of joint-venture partnerships that HMSHost has formed with selected local and diverse businesses that will bring unique flavours and community-driven hospitality to JFK’s Terminal 4. The two new concepts were selected following a competitive process to provide travellers with authentic New York culinary experiences as part of JFKIAT’s partnership with HMSHost. The business owners received mentorship and operational guidance to successfully operate within an airport and their inclusions in Terminal 4’s street market program as part of joint-venture partnerships were announced last year.
“We are thrilled to welcome small local businesses to JFK in our effort to make the airport truly feel like a mirror of the region it serves,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “New York and New Jersey are known around the world for distinct flavours and hospitality thanks to our region’s diversity and we want air travellers to be able to get a sample of that upon arrival, for the duration of a layover, or as the last taste of an unforgettable trip to our region. We look forward to more local businesses joining our airport family as a new JFK takes shape throughout 2026.”
“It is extremely gratifying to see local businesses expand, particularly ones that are part of the DNA of the community served by JFK,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “As a graduate of our Institute of Concessions, Villa Russo is now more than an Italian-American business in Queens. It now represents a taste of New York City to millions of air travellers who travel through Terminal 4 each year, as well as serve as an example of how a neighbourhood asset like our airport can help local small business owners thrive.”
