Tarra’s mother, Lou Ella Jordan, owned and operated two companies, JL Unlimited and the Magnolia Group, partners in concessions at Palm Beach and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airports, where Tarra was a part-time, then full-time, employee while she attended high school and college.
Lou Ella’s firms were subtenants in Palm Beach and Atlanta, fulfilling all of the day-to-day operations and management functions of the concepts they provided. It was here that Tarra adopted the take-charge, hands-on approach to managing airport concessions that continues to set Tarra Enterprises apart.
After earning her bachelor’s degree in finance from Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama, Tarra formed Tarra Enterprises.
Starting as managing partner of a single Miami Subs location at Palm Beach International Airport, Tarra Enterprises was soon invited to join the majority partner in operating all of the airport concessions there. Collectively today, Tarra Enterprises and HMSHost own and operate all 15 food-and-beverage concessions in the airport, which include Burger King, Starbucks, California Pizza Kitchen and Quiznos®, among other brands.
In 2008, Tarra Enterprises began operating concessions at Atlantic City International Airport, and in 2009, at Miami International Airport. The firm became a partner at JFK International Airport in New York City in 2014 and today operates brands there including Victoria’s Secret, Dunkin’ Donuts, Baskin-Robbins, Hudson and Euro Café. Tarra Enterprises also operated a variety of thriving retail and foodservice businesses at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport from 2007 to 2017.
President and CEO Tarra Pressey continues to seek opportunities to grow her firm’s involvement in its established markets as well as to expand into new markets. Please feel free to contact us for more information.