CORONA DEL MAR TODAY

Big Corona Concessions Proposals Sought — Again

UPDATED to clarify summer hours required by the city.

Newport Beach officials have issued a request for proposals to operate the Big Corona State Beach concessions stand, stating that “time is of the essence” and that the bidders should be prepared to open by Memorial Day.

The concessions stand has been vacant since Fuji Grill closed in November 2010; read our story here.

Operators who wish to run the 1,043-square foot concessions stand must submit applications by 5 p.m. Jan 5 and attend one of two site visits scheduled for 10 a.m. Dec. 19 or 10 a.m. Jan. 3, according to the RFP.

Rent will be based on a percentage of sales, or proposers “may offer alternative rent, terms and conditions based on proposer’s assessment of the facility, the requirements of this RFP and market conditions,” the RFP states. The agreement would be for five years, with two five-year extensions possible if the concessionaire and city agree.

The concessions stand should be open daily between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor day, with off-season hours to be set at the concessionaire’s discretion, the RFP states

The stand must sell refreshments and possibly offer rental of beach equipment such as boogie boards and umbrellas, the RFP states. Alcohol and pornography are banned, the RFP states.

Employee parking will be available but was not specified in the RFP. The RFP also outlines experience requirements, as well as insurance obligations and other details.

Last year, the city issued an RFP that yielded only one application, which the city declined to accept; read our stories here and here. The stand was empty, but over the summer, the city arranged for a variety of food trucks to be at the beach to serve refreshments; read more here, here and here.

City staff last year had suggested that lowering the rent could help draw more applicants; the current RFP is more flexible.