Operations of a Food and Beverage Concession

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is soliciting proposals to operate a food and beverage concession at Midway State Park in Bemus Point, Chautauqua County, with proposals due September 9, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. and oral presentations scheduled for September 2026.

The scope encompasses operating two locations: the Hippodrome Building (a fully equipped facility with kitchen, grill, storage, and serving windows) and the Amusement Ride Area (a 35-foot by 25-foot blacktop space with electricity and potable water access). The licensee must operate from late May through Labor Day with minimum hours of 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., depending on season, and provide service during the Park's July Anniversary Celebration and Labor Day Car Show. The menu must include healthy options and comply with New York's Taste NY initiative. The licensee is responsible for all operational costs, including staffing, equipment, and compliance with environmental policies prohibiting polystyrene and single-use plastics. The licensee must expend at least 2% of annual gross receipts on repairs, refurbishment, and maintenance of premises and state-owned equipment, and must procure comprehensive liability and workers' compensation insurance with financial payment bonds equal to projected annual financial obligations.

The concession license runs from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2029, with an option for extension up to an additional three years upon mutual agreement and Office of the State Comptroller approval. The minimum annual license fee is $3,500, with respondents permitted to offer higher fees. Historical data shows average annual gross receipts of $129,120 (2022–2025) with utility costs averaging approximately $3,000 annually; utilities are sub-metered and billed to the licensee. Trash and recycling services cost $500 annually.

The incumbent operator is Fowlers Fresh Foods LLC. Proposals are evaluated on a 120-point scale: 90 points for technical merit (background/experience, RFP response quality, and business development strategy) and 30 points for financial return to the State based on the proposed license fee. Site tours are recommended and can be coordinated through the Park Manager.