PRESS RELEASE
City of Aspen Seeks Proposals for Rio Grande Building Restaurant Space
Aspen, Colo. – Wednesday, August 10, 2022 – The City of Aspen seeks proposals from qualified vendors for the commercial restaurant space located at 455 Rio Grande Place. A fixture of Aspen’s local food scene, the 1,615 sq. ft. space has served the community with a fast reliable and affordable fare for many years. Through this Request for Proposals (RFP), the City aims to continue this tradition when selecting the new tenant.
Following the direction of Aspen City Council, the RFP specifies that proposals need to demonstrate an intent to maintain year-round restaurant operations and to provide daily lunch and dinner service to the Aspen community. Breakfast and late-night bar service options are possible, but not required.
Proposals will be evaluated against various criteria, including:
- Lease Rate and Terms
- Concept and Menu Offerings
- Ability to Provide Affordable Menu
- Qualifications and Business Model
- Approach to Shoulder Seasons
- References
An optional pre-proposal conference will be held at the Rio Grande Building, 455 Rio Grande Place, on Tuesday, August 23, 2022, from 10 a.m. to noon. Attendance is not mandatory but provides prospective bidders an opportunity to visit the site prior to finalizing and submitting their proposals.
Proposals should be submitted electronically by Friday, September 16, 2022, at 2 p.m. on the Bidnet Direct website at www.bidnetdirect.com.
Vendors must be registered to view and download the complete “2022-272 Rio Grande Building Restaurant” proposal package with timeline from www.bidnetdirect.com; there is no charge to register.
A recommendation to consider a selected tenant is scheduled for discussion at the October 11 City Council meeting. The City will work with the selected tenant to ensure the new restaurant space will be open to serve the community as soon as possible, anticipating an opening in summer 2023.
Questions regarding the RFP or procurement process also should be submitted online at www.bidnetdirect.com. Answers will be posted for all interested parties to review and consider. If you need assistance registering, please call 1-800-835-4603.
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Contact: Denise White, Communications Director, denise.white@aspen.gov or 970-920-5293