August 2024
Growing a Business at PHX, Meet Ricardo De Leon
Ricardo De Leon is no stranger to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport; in fact, he’s been doing business at the airport for nearly two decades.
Leon has had a front row seat to watching the airport change and grow over the years. Calling the atmosphere of America’s Friendliest Airport® one of the best in the nation, “Phoenix by far in my opinion leads a lot of airports in many areas.”
His stores span both terminals with everything from Hudson News to Phoenix Duty Free, Tech On The Go, Discover Arizona and Bunky Boutique. Harnessing the energy of the airport is just by far a different experience than having a business anywhere else Leon says, “The business is a different animal,” citing the fast pace and the people from all over the world Leon interacts with, always make being an airport business owner a unique and enjoyable experience for him.
Leon applauds the minority business owner program at the airport as he says it allows small business owners to be part of a bigger business. Leon was inspired to become a small business owner from his father, who owned western wear stores in Phoenix, even encouraged to open an airport business by the late Senator John McCain but didn’t have the capital at the time.
However, once Leon had the opportunity, his hard work and drive paid off, going from two stores at Phoenix Sky Harbor 19 years ago, to now having multiple concepts in both terminals and owning all the retail concepts at Tucson International Airport.
With all that, Leon has no plans of landing anytime soon, “As long as there’s planes in the air I’ve got a job,” saying that he’ll continue in this line of work, “as long as I can walk the stores and talk to the people.” With all the growth ahead for Phoenix Sky Harbor, you never know where you may see Leon or one of his concepts next.