Woodbury seeks food vendors for Bielenberg

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It may seem like it’s too early to seek food service vendors for a newly remodeled Bielenberg Sports Center, but city officials are already getting proposals.

“Assuming the project moves forward we want them to be involved in the design process,” said Parks and Recreation Director Bob Klatt.

The proposed $22 million Bielenberg Sports Center expansion will have 1,500 square feet of space on the second floor for food preparation, serving and storage.

The city is seeking one vendor that would finish out the space and operate it under a lease agreement once the remodeling is complete, Klatt said.

It will be similar to Central Park, where Cups n’ Scoops was responsible for finishing the design and operating the restaurant.

“They have been operating the food service successfully there since it opened,” Klatt said.

The city has gotten multiple contacts interested in submitting proposals since it sent out a letter seeking food vendors less than two weeks ago.

Klatt said the deadline for proposals is at the end of November and he expects several proposals will be coming in.

Currently, the city operates the concession stand at the Bielenberg Sports Center, something Council Member Christopher Burns has not been in favor of.

Burns has said during past discussions regarding the remodeling of the Bielenberg Sports Center field house that the city should not be in the food service business.

The council has directed city staff to look into a lease agreement to bring in a new food service vendor that would provide more options to visitors of the center.

“Right now what we operate is more like a movie theater concession stand: popcorn, candy, pop, hot dogs – that sort of thing,” Klatt said.

City officials expect to make a decision on which food service vendor will take over the space in December.

Klatt said the type of product, financial feasibility and what the vendor will provide in terms of design will be considered among other things.

Then in January the City Council is expected to authorize staff to advertise for bids on the project.

“The timing will coordinate well in that perspective,” Klatt said.

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