Miami International Airport is celebrating the opening of its North Terminal Marketplace – a row of 10 new restaurants and shops that present travelers with a multi-cultural taste of the city. As part of the airport’s inauguration last week, passengers were treated to a two-hour open house, with free samples and giveaways from each of the vendors.
The Marketplace, located between gates D-26 and D-29, mixes iconic brands with local business enterprises. Outlets include 305 Pizza; Chefs of the Caribbean, which serves island favorites such as conch fritters and Jamaican patties; Cuban Crafters cigars; Estefan Kitchen Express, owned by music stars Emilio and Gloria Estefan; Fig and Fennel, a farm-to-table eatery owned by Miami Beach hot spot Icebox Café; Half Moon Empanadas; a Miami Marlins baseball team merchandise store; Maru and Friends, which features collectible, ethnically diverse porcelain dolls by award-winning artist Dianna Effner; My Ceviche, the popular seafood deli with five locations in Miami; and The Penguin Store, by Miami-based Perry Ellis.
Carlos A Gimenez, Miami-Dade County mayor, said, “Congratulations to the Miami-Dade Aviation Department and the Marketplace concessionaires for completing this impressive new dining and retail area. In addition to top-rate food and retail options, Miami-Dade County can be proud of the fact that seven of the Marketplace locations are operated by small business owners – the backbone of our local economy.”
Emilio T González, Miami-Dade aviation director, added, “Second only to our airlines, our shops and restaurants are unquestionably the most important service providers at the airport. We are extremely proud of the new choices available at the Marketplace, and we look forward to partnering with more local businesses who will enhance the sense of place we want our passengers to experience.”