City wants to get into the mobile bar business
The city is looking for an operator.
Encouraged by the success of pop-up beer gardens during the last couple of years, the city of Philadelphia wants to get into the act.
But rather than block out a fixed location or two - as the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society has done - the city is going mobile.
And instead of limiting the refreshment selection to soft drinks and beer, these new mobile bars can serve wine and spirits, too.
The Department of Parks and Recreation and the Fairmount Park Conservancy have put out a request for proposals for what it calls the Mobile Food and Beverage Garden Program, seeking a vendor to serve food and beverages for up to five consecutive days at a time during a series of what it calls "consecutive pop-up residencies."
They're not "mobile" in the sense of food trucks; they simply stay a few days at one location and move on.
The RFP says the city wants "a new amenity for park users. It is anticipated that the program will introduce residents to Philadelphia Parks & Recreation's incredible, and often unknown, assets in a fun and engaging way."
The city wants to schedule 12 to 18 consecutive weeks from June through October.
The venues identified include Aviator Park/Logan Square; Paine's Park (Franklin's Paine Skatepark); Schuylkill Banks (between Walnut & Market); Water Works / Lloyd Hall, lawn area between the two along the Schuylkill; Lemon Hill Mansion (park also available if desired); Playing Angels (Kelly Drive); Sedgley Woods Disc Golf Course; Mount Pleasant; Clark Park; Belmont Plateau; Japanese House & Gardens (Shofuso); Horticulture Center; Smith Memorial Arch/Whispering Wall; FDR Park; Jefferson Square Park; Hawthorne Park; Penn Treaty Park; and Powers Park.
Applicants must have a minimum of three years of experience operating a successful food and beverage venue that is currently in business and must hold a current Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board liquor license in good standing and be capable of securing a PLCB Off-Premises Catering Permit.
There's a mandatory preproposal meeting at 10 a.m. Feb. 18 at the City Planning Commission Meeting Room at 1515 Arch St., 18th floor; RSVP attendance to emoselle@myphillypark.org.
Responses are due by 10:30 a.m. March 31 at the Municipal Services Building, 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Room 170A.
See the RFP here.