Petrifying Springs Park Beer Garden Concessions Operation

Kenosha County, Wisconsin, through its Purchasing Division, is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to select a qualified food and beverage vendor to operate a beer garden concession at Petrifying Springs Park located at 5555 7th Street, Kenosha, Wisconsin. The County seeks a vendor to fully manage all aspects of the beer garden operation, including the sale of beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages, and food in a family-friendly environment. Vendors must demonstrate a minimum of three years' experience in the food and beverage industry and provide references from similar operations. Deliverables include detailed site plans, business plans, menu proposals, cost estimates for improvements, and comprehensive insurance coverage with commercial general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence, automobile liability of $1,000,000, and workers' compensation. The vendor will be responsible for all site improvements and upgrades at their own expense unless otherwise negotiated, while the County retains ownership of the premises and adjacent green space. The evaluation committee will score proposals on a 100-point scale based on improvements cost (10 points), company profile (10 points), staff qualifications (15 points), business and operational plan (20 points), improvements (15 points), menu (10 points), and financial proposal and revenue share (20 points). Key deadlines include a pre-proposal conference on March 10, 2026, at 10:00 AM, questions due by March 17, 2026, potential addenda posted by March 24, 2026, sealed proposals due April 14, 2026, at 3:00 PM, vendor presentations estimated for May 12, 2026, and contract award anticipated for July 14, 2026, with operations beginning January 1, 2027.

The contract will be structured as a five-year agreement with an option to renew for an additional five years pending mutual agreement, and the vendor will operate the beer garden seasonally from May 1 through October 30 annually, with minimum opening of two weekends prior to Memorial Day. The financial structure involves a 15 percent commission on gross sales, calculated as total receipts from all food, beverages, merchandise, memberships, and third-party sales minus sales tax and discounts, with payments due within 30 days of the close of each month. The vendor must obtain a Class B tavern license and comply with all Wisconsin Dram Shop Laws, cease alcohol dispensation by 9:00 p.m. daily, and maintain specific insurance including comprehensive general liability of $100,000/$500,000/$100,000, automobile liability of $1,000,000 combined single limit, liquor liability of $1,000,000, and an umbrella policy of $5,000,000 per occurrence. Operating hours are scheduled for Monday-Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Friday-Sunday from noon to 9:00 p.m. from June through September, with weekend-only operations in October. The RFP documents indicate no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond, no incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified, and no specific budget ranges or award values are listed, with the financial terms to be negotiated between the County and the selected vendor.