After opening its first restaurant in Miami-Dade County’s historic Black heritage neighborhood of Overtown in 1946 and its second location in the City of Opa-locka in 2015, Jackson Soul Food has now brought its legendary family recipes to Miami International Airport (MIA).
On February 20, Jackson Soul Food Owner Shirlene Ingraham and Michael Svagdis, SSP America CEO, were joined by Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, County Commissioner Marleine Bastien, former County Commissioners Barbara J. Jordan and Audrey M. Edmonson, and MIA Director and CEO Ralph Cutié to cut the ribbon for the home-grown small business’ third location, located just beyond security in MIA’s Concourse E near gate E2.
Branded as Jackson Square, the MIA location also includes Jackson Soul Food’s Chick-fil-A franchise and is accessible to passengers inside concourses D and E. SSP America, a division of SSP Group – a leading operator of food and beverage brands in travel locations worldwide – is operating Jackson Square in partnership with Jackson Soul Food.
Ingraham started learning to cook at the age of 6 at her parents’ restaurant, Mama’s Café. She would hide in her parents’ car at 4 a.m. so she could go to work with them and would stand behind the counter on a block crate, helping to serve biscuits. Jackson Soul Food would grow to become a popular draw for both Miami residents and celebrities, with its menu of traditional soul food dishes such as fried catfish, meatloaf, ribs, candied yams, fried okra, collard greens, and macaroni and cheese.