BUD & MARILYN’S TAKES HOME TITLE OF ‘2024 MERCHANT OF THE YEAR’
PHL establishments awarded for sky-high service, quality and guest experience
PHILADELPHIA — May 10, 2024 — The airport’s concessions program, MarketPlace PHL, recently rolled out the red carpet for the fabulous PHL Food & Shops community at its annual Merchant of the Year awards program, where Bud & Marilyn’s took home the coveted title of “2024 Merchant of the Year.”
The much-loved PHL restaurant earned the highest honor at this year’s Merchant of the Year celebration in recognition of its commitment to providing passengers with exceptional dining experiences marked by delicious dishes and impeccable hospitality.
PHL’s very own Bud & Marilyn’s location, operated by veteran restaurateur Hakan Ilhan, landed in Terminal C back in 2019, thanks to the massive success of the restaurant’s flagship location in Philly’s Midtown Village.
Spearheaded by Chef Marcie Turney and business partner Valerie Safran (the same duo behind many of Philly’s favorite eateries, such as Barbuzzo, Lolita and Little Nonna’s), Bud & Marilyn’s is a celebration of mid-century American cuisine that serves up elevated stylings of classic comfort food dishes, including crispy cheese curds (a PHL favorite), chicken and waffles (a PHL exclusive!), and many, many more.
Multiple awards were presented to other PHL merchants throughout the evening by Clarence LeJeune, Operating Partner of MarketPlace PHL, and Mel Hannah, Vice President and General Manager of MarketPlace PHL.
“Kudos to Bud & Marilyn’s and all our exceptional merchants and team members that comprise the PHL Food & Shops family,” said Hannah, Vice President and General Manager of MarketPlace PHL. “Even after 25 years of our program’s operation, the bar continues to be raised year after year.”
“Congratulations to Bud & Marilyn’s and to all this year’s winners for the exceptional experiences that you continue to provide to passengers at PHL,” said Kate Sullivan, Chief Commercial Officer at PHL. “We’re focused on working with the team at MarketPlace PHL to continue elevating the customer journey at the airport with a range of local and diverse shopping and dining options delivered with outstanding service.”
A select group of PHL Food & Shops locations, managers and staff were celebrated with awards and recognition over the course of the celebration. A full list of winners from the 2024 Merchant of the Year celebration appears below.
Outstanding Quick-Service Restaurant of the Year
Gachi Sushi & Noodles (Terminal E)
Outstanding Full-Service Restaurant of the Year
Chickie’s & Pete’s (Terminal D)
Outstanding Specialty Retail of the Year
InMotion Entertainment (B/C Connector)
Sustainability Award
OTG
Outstanding Guest Experience
Hudson News (Terminal D)
Manager of the Year
Lauren Rago (Hudson)
MarketPlace PHL Achievement Awards
Esther Arulampalam (Executive Assistant)
Dana Pyle (Marketing and Guest Experience Manager)
Merchant of the Year
Bud & Marilyn’s
Marketplace PHL has been developing and operating the award-winning, industry-leading PHL Food & Shops program that includes more than 170 in-line stores, restaurants and services for over a quarter century. For more information, please visit PHLfoodandshops.com.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: A photo of PHL’s Bud & Marilyn’s team, including operator Hakan Ilhan and ACDBE partner Joanne Plessas, accepting the 2024 Merchant of the Year Award at the annual celebration is embedded in this release.
ABOUT MARKETPLACE PHL, LLC
MarketPlace PHL, LLC, is the private partner with the City of Philadelphia in the management of the food and retail programs throughout Philadelphia International Airport. The award-winning program offers more than 170 shops, restaurants and services. The MarketPlace PHL portfolio features local Philly favorites, as well as regional and national brands. MarketPlace PHL, LLC, is a partnership between MarketPlace Development, a Boston-based airport retail development firm, and LeJeune & Associates, a Philadelphia-based retail development, management and consulting firm. For more information, visit PHLfoodandshops.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Griffin Horner
For MarketPlace PHL
484-683-5980
griffin@hornercom.com