Opening in phases through the first quarter of 2026, the redevelopment will feature over 60 new concessions – combining local New York businesses, global luxury brands, and first-to-airport concepts to enhance the passenger experience and reflect the character of New York City and Queens.
Local favorites and new culinary experiences
At the heart of the project will be The Boroughs Food Hall, operated by a joint venture between MERA US, Tsion Enterprises, Food Cycle LLC, and South River Partners. The concept brings together local specialties, street food, healthy options, and international cuisines.
Among the highlights:
- Cobblestones, a Queens bar offering craft beers and casual dining overlooking a new entertainment zone, “The Show.”
- Black Star Bakery & Café, Mito, and Naya, representing the city’s modern café, Japanese, and Middle Eastern culinary trends.
- Flavortown Kitchen by celebrity chef Guy Fieri.
- BKLYN Blend, a health-focused juice bar and graduate of the Port Authority’s Institute of Concessions.
- Neir’s Tavern, New York’s oldest bar, and Bowery Meat Company, the acclaimed steakhouse, will also join the lineup.
A refreshed duty-free experience
The duty-free area, operated by Avolta’s Dufry, will showcase an open-air shopping environment inspired by New York’s neighborhood markets. Luxury boutiques will feature brands such as Longchamp, Marc Jacobs, Lacoste, TAG Heuer, Breitling, and Montblanc, alongside Beauty on 5th, offering cosmetics from Dior, Lancôme, Estée Lauder, and others.
Other retail highlights include:
- W. 12th St. Market, inspired by Manhattan’s Meatpacking District.
- The Park @ T8, reflecting Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, offering wines, spirits, and premium confections.
- The Connoisseur Collection, combining liquor, tobacco, and a speakeasy bar called Blinded Tiger.
- Pre-Loved Luxury, focusing on upcycled leather goods and fine watches.
Strengthening community partnerships
The Port Authority emphasized that more than 50% of the new operators are NYC-based, with 15 new-to-airport brands joining the mix. Two concessions will be run by graduates of the Institute of Concessions, a program launched in 2023 to help small, local businesses compete for airport opportunities.
Rick Cotton, Executive Director of the Port Authority, said: “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. Terminal 8’s new lineup will create a passenger experience that is uniquely New York and best in class.”
Amanda Zhang, American Airlines Vice President of Corporate Real Estate, added: “The additional brands continue to showcase our partnership with the Port Authority and URW to bring the culture and community of Queens and New York to Terminal 8.”
A wider airport transformation
The redevelopment of Terminal 8 forms part of the $19 billion transformation of JFK Airport, which includes privately financed projects such as the $9.5 billion New Terminal One, the $4.2 billion Terminal 6, and the completed expansions of Terminals 4 and 8.
This investment – one of the largest airport modernization programs globally – aims to position JFK as a world-class global gateway, blending New York’s cultural identity with international standards of service and design.
When complete, the revamped Terminal 8 will offer travellers a distinctly New York experience, uniting local heritage, global brands, and community-driven entrepreneurship under one modern, passenger-focused terminal.
Tags: Rick Cotton, Port Authority, John F. Kennedy International Airport
