Kenny & Zuke's
PDX Airport, Portland, OR
Background and Context
Aviation travel has dramatically shifted to provide local food and culture to waiting passengers. SSP America, one of the nation’s top aviation food and beverage operators, has been working closely with JCJ on a variety of venues at airports including SFO and JFK.
Design Response
Kenny & Zuke’s is a Jewish delicatessen that is famous for its pastrami and bagels. Founded about five years ago in Portland, SSP America was looking to bring an authentic Kenny & Zuke’s experience into the Portland airport. Understanding the Kenny & Zuke’s brand was imperative to develop a version that was appropriate for the aviation market. Key elements of the design include a special focus on retail food display and coffee and bar offerings.
SSP America, in addition to federal regulations, has a set of protocol standards for each of its tenants and venues across the nation. JCJ worked to manage this transition from a local freestanding venue into an aviation tenant in conjunction with these SSP standards. Security is consistently a large concern and requires the design and construction team certain procedures in order to obtain a badge to work on or visit the site.
Results
Kenny & Zuke’s was constructed on time and on budget for its recent opening. It faithfully took the spirit of the original Kenny & Zuke’s locations and transformed them to be appropriate for aviation travel. Elements of the design, like the wine barrel lighting fixtures added extra touches to the 3,000 SF tenant space. JCJ continues to work with SSP on an assortment of other food and beverage venues for Portland’s airport and others across the nation.