Cafe Partner

The New Haven Free Public Library (NHFPL), a municipal department of the City of New Haven in New Haven County, Connecticut, is seeking qualified for-profit and not-for-profit proposers to operate a cafe space located on the first floor of the Ives Memorial Library at 133 Elm Street on the historic New Haven Green. The cafe will occupy approximately 1,800 square feet of space (900 square feet interior plus 975 square feet seasonal outdoor patio) and will serve an estimated 300,000 annual library visitors during operating hours of Monday through Thursday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Proposers must demonstrate experience in providing outstanding coffee and beverage service, food and snack service, and catering capabilities, with demonstrated ability to manage all aspects of cafe operations including leasing, marketing, financial reporting, and operations management. The selected operator will be required to comply with City of New Haven Board of Health code requirements and must submit comprehensive proposals addressing business information, cafe concept and menu (minimum 10 items), detailed financial documentation including startup budgets and two-year pro forma projections, and required compliance documents. Evaluation criteria, weighted equally at 14.3 percent each, include proposer experience and team organization, proposer experience and reputation, quality and uniqueness of the concept, financial capacity and business plan, economic return to the library, financial viability of projections, and alignment with the library's social, cultural, and entrepreneurial objectives. The pre-proposal meeting is scheduled for May 15, 2026 at 9:15 AM (non-mandatory), the question submission deadline is May 19, 2026 at 5:00 PM, and proposals must be submitted electronically through the City's eProcurement Portal by May 26, 2026 at 11:00 AM. Award is expected within 120 days of the proposal deadline, and the selected proposer must sign the lease agreement within 10 days of notification.

This procurement is open to both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations; however, the RFP prioritizes New Haven-based businesses and requires demonstrated community alignment, locally-hired staff, and mission alignment with the library's values of education, community, and inclusion. Proposers must comply with the City of New Haven's equal employment opportunity policies, living wage ordinance provisions (applicable if the contract exceeds $25,000 annually), and ban-the-box criminal history standards, and must maintain general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 with the City named as an additional insured. The RFP requires proposers to obtain current City of New Haven Board of Health permits and Connecticut Food Service Establishment Permits, provide evidence of available financing through letters of intent and bank statements, and submit notarized introductions and completed city compliance forms. The Library will provide major equipment at no cost to the operator, including an espresso machine, coffee grinder, dual brewer, refrigeration units, prep tables, sinks, seating, sound systems, WiFi, and maintenance support, with all utilities and related costs included within the lease agreement; the operator is responsible for providing and maintaining a point-of-sale system, cash register, panini grill, convection oven, blender, and other specialized equipment as needed. Pricing must be affordable and accessible, with food items priced under $7 and beverages under $5.50, and proposers must propose both a base monthly rent and a revenue percentage share structure. While no specific award value or budget range is explicitly stated in the RFP documents, the contract term is one year with up to two optional one-year renewal periods at the City's discretion, with potential price adjustments if material or labor costs fluctuate by more than 20 percent during the contract term.