2607RFP - Fire Station #1 Restaurant Development

The City of Daytona Beach is seeking qualified respondents through a Request for Proposals (RFP) to convert the historic Fire Station One, a 100-year-old, 8,000-square-foot building located at 301 Beach Street, into a fully equipped sit-down restaurant and lounge establishment. The procurement aims to develop a signature dining destination that preserves the building's historical significance while offering a unique restaurant experience near the recently completed Riverfront Esplanade and Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Proposers must demonstrate extensive restaurant management experience, submit a comprehensive business plan with a vision statement and financial projections, and propose a competitive lease fee structure. The evaluation criteria will allocate 35 points for restaurant manager experience, 35 points for the business plan, and 30 points for the proposed lease fee structure. A non-mandatory pre-proposal meeting is scheduled for December 17, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. via Microsoft Teams, with questions and interpretation requests due by February 3, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., and final proposal submissions required by February 10, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. through the OpenGov platform.

Respondents must be incorporated under Florida law and have maintained an active, permanent restaurant operation for a minimum of three years prior to submission. The lease will be negotiated on a net lease basis, with the tenant responsible for all operating expenses except structural repairs, and potentially structured as a fixed monthly rate per square foot, a percentage of gross receipts, or a combination. The selected proposer must maintain comprehensive insurance coverage, including $5,000,000 in commercial general liability insurance, property insurance at full replacement cost, and $2,000,000 in liquor liability insurance if alcohol will be served. The restaurant must operate 364 days per year during pre-approved hours, with the proposer responsible for all operational costs, permits, licenses, marketing, staffing, maintenance, utilities, and regulatory compliance. All improvements, fixtures, and equipment installed will become the property of the City upon lease termination. While no specific budget range is mentioned, the project involves a prime downtown location with 44 dedicated parking spaces, suggesting significant potential for a lucrative restaurant venture.