Request for proposal to lease and manage a restaurant facility at the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market in Colfax, NC.

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is requesting proposals to lease and manage a newly renovated restaurant facility at the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market in Guilford County, with proposals due July 24, 2026.

The scope encompasses full restaurant operations including food service, staffing, inventory management, and facility maintenance. The operator must develop and execute operational and management plans, establish menus suited to farmers market clientele, and meet performance standards for food safety compliance, service quality, and facility upkeep. Proposals must demonstrate operator qualifications, relevant food service management experience, operational capacity, and financial capability to sustain operations. Marketing strategies to maximize facility utilization are required.

The operator assumes responsibility for all operating costs, including utilities, staffing, insurance, and supplies. Funding derives entirely from restaurant revenues generated through food and beverage sales; no state subsidy is provided. The lease structure establishes rent payment schedules and terms for facility use. Evaluation criteria include operator qualifications, viability and sustainability of the proposed business plan, financial capability, and alignment with the farmers market's mission and community objectives. The selected operator is expected to assume operations following contract execution and NCDA & CS approval, with a defined lease term and specified renewal conditions.