The Mister Paradise bar at JFK T5 will mimic the look of its East Village bar.
SSP Group
SSP America has secured a major concession at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, winning the rights to operate more than 10 food and beverage units at JetBlue’s flagship Terminal 5. The expansion—part of JFK’s $19 billion redevelopment, 80% funded by private capital—introduces an airport‑adapted version of East Village cocktail bar Mister Paradise, marking a rare move by independent nightlife talent into the airport retail arena.
The JetBlue terminal—currently going through a major refresh—is operated by Fraport USA, the U.S. arm of Germany’s Fraport Group, which owns Frankfurt Airport and runs several other gateways around the world. SSP’s established partnership with Fraport USA and its established JFK presence position it well for this expansion. JFK is the country’s busiest international airport, and 19th worldwide.
Among the concepts that travel food and beverage (F&B) specialist SSP will deliver at T5, the standout is Mister Paradise as it makes its entry into an airport—a pivot that underscores the credibility of airport concessions in attracting independent nightlife talent. More mainstream F&B arrivals will be coffee and donut chain Dunkin’, and burger-inspired Shake Shack.
The original Mister Paradise cocktail bar in NYC’s East Village (on 105 First Avenue) was co‑founded by Will Wyatt (ex‑Death & Co) and Eric Paul, and opened in 2019, just before the pandemic.
To date, it has been big-named chefs that have been opening up at airports—for example Gordon Ramsay’s Plane Food at London Heathrow, Todd English at Abu Dhabi International, and Dabiz Muñoz at Madrid Airport, and Yannick Alenó at Hamad International’s Louis Vuitton Lounge.
Mister Paradise aims to transfer the vibrancy of its East Village cocktail bar experience—known for balancing serious craft in cocktail making with a party‑like atmosphere and retro feel—to JFK. According to SSP America, the airport bar will have a lively atmosphere “perfect for socializing and enjoying creative, expertly crafted cocktails.”
Strong New York themes
Other NYC concepts that SSP is bringing in are:
The Gotham Burger Social Club: the Lower East Side smash burger icon that will feature an open-kitchen bar and rustic stylingThrees Brewing: the Brooklyn craft brewery known for its flagship beers like All or Nothing, Logical Conclusion, and Vliet, that has expanded to Gowanus, Greenpoint, Governors Island, and Huntington, Long IslandTiki Chick: a tiki-themed bar on the Upper West Side serving up tropical cocktails such as frozen piña coladas and a laid-back vibe, andBirch Coffee: the library-inspired NYC café known for its coffee roasted in Long Island City.
Also arriving between now and next year are Blind Barber, a barbershop during the day and cocktail lounge at night located in the East Village; and Juice Press, a plant-based F&B unit offering organic cold-pressed juices, smoothies, and acai bowls.
Gotham Burger Social Club burgers: coming soon to JetBlue’s Terminal 5. (Photo by Jeff Schear/Getty Images for NYCWFF)
Getty Images for NYCWFF
Jose Cuevas, vice president of operations for Fraport New York commented: “Each new concept brings its own authentic flavor and character that capture the energy of New York. Together, they offer customers more variety, higher quality, and a true taste of the city before they take flight.”
SSP America’s chief development officer, Paul Loupakos, added: “The T5 refresh is a bold step forward that celebrates New York’s culinary diversity and vibrancy. Our mission is to make the airport the best part of the journey.” Last month, George Mboya landed the CEO role at the division, having previously been overseeing the T5 build-up as interim CEO. Mboya joined SSP America in 2017 and has helped lead the business through over 300% revenue growth via organic expansion, strategic acquisitions, and new business.
When the T5 project concludes next year it will have a total of more than 40 new concessions including over 18 local F&B and retail concepts and a redesigned central concourse. It is inspired by New York’s parks, so greenery, park benches, concrete chess tables, warm lighting, and a local art initiative, will all be part of the mix.
The T5 refresh, part of JFK’s $19 billion redevelopment—about 80% of which is through private investment—highlights how airports are leveraging local culture and private capital to redefine the passenger experience.