A Black-owned business has moved into one of the busiest airports in America.

Golden Krust Origins

Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery (Golden Krust) is a family-led business founded by Lowell Hawthorne, who credits his parents, Mavis and Ephraim, for the idea. The couple ran Hawthorne & Sons Bakery in St. Mary, Jamaica, for more than 50 years with the help of their 11 children. The business was known for giving back to the community through feeding the hungry and supporting education efforts, according to an Instagram post.

In 1989, the Hawthorne siblings and their spouses packed their bags with a dream and pooled their savings to move to New York and start fresh with Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery, located in The Bronx, as outlined on the company website. Lowell served as president and CEO until his passing in 2017.

Making History

Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery reportedly became the first Caribbean-owned franchiser in the U.S. in 1996, notes the company website. Over three decades later, this has led to the launch of more than 100 restaurants across the country, according to a press release shared with AFROTECH™.

The company has maintained a spirit of generosity since its inception, donating over 20,000 meals and nearly 7 tons of food to countless nonprofits as part of its 35 Deeds initiative, which launched in 2024 and coincided with the business’s 35th anniversary, per the press release.

Golden Krust’s impact will continue to grow as the company expands to more locations, including recently in Miramar, FL.

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A post shared by Golden Krust (@goldenkrust)

Expanding To JFK Airport

Golden Krust has also opened a location at the John F. Kennedy International Airport, one of the busiest in the nation, with involvement of franchisees Conroy and Samantha Champagne, as NY Carib News reports. Its grand opening will be held at Terminal 8, Baggage Claim 7, on Friday, Oct. 24, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the ribbon cutting at 1 p.m., notes South Florida Caribbean News.

“JFK is very diverse, with travelers from all over the world, so I think this will be one of our greatest stepping stones to introducing Golden Krust to new audiences,” Jacqueline Hawthorne-Robinson, Golden Krust CEO and daughter of Mavis and Ephraim, told The Gleaner.

“We are embracing it and looking forward to flooding the airport with Jamaican music, art, and food. This is the next chapter for us,” she continued.

Visitors can expect staple menu items such as braised oxtail, jerk chicken, curried goat, Jamaican patties, and sides such as fried sweet plantains, rice and peas, and steamed vegetables.

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