New Yorkers and tourists will soon be able to wine and dine along Brooklyn’s waterfront
New vendors include variety of food options as well as an outdoor wine bar
Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation (BBPDC) today announced the four concessionaires selected for the recently opened Pier 1 at Brooklyn Bridge Park. The vendors selected were a result of a Request for Proposals (RFP) introduced in March, and approved today by the BBPDC Board of Directors. The diverse group of eateries will make Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 1 the newest waterfront dining destination.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome this diverse group of first-rate food and beverage merchants at the Brooklyn Bridge Park,” said Regina Myer, President of Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation. “From ice cream to burritos, park visitors will have a variety of choices, all provided by successful, local companies that exemplify Brooklyn’s world-class culinary scene.
The four vendors will be located throughout the newly opened Pier 1 section of the park. Ditch Plains will be located in the gatehouse at the entrance to Pier 1, and will serve park goers a variety of sandwiches, hot dogs, French fries, snack foods, drinks, and desserts. Nearby in the entrance plaza, Pier 66 Maritime’s seasonal wine bar will give visitors a chance to relax in front of park and waterfront views.
“Empire State Development congratulates BBPDC on this great outcome to their RFP process. As New York City’s newest recreation destination, Brooklyn Bridge Park warrants the very best concessionaires available,” said Peter W. Davidson, ESD Executive Director and BBPDC Chairman. “The selection of food and beverage providers for Pier 1 was an essential piece of final preparations in anticipation of a very busy summer at Brooklyn Bridge Park.”
Calexico Carne Asada, which has two popular food carts in SoHo as well as a Brooklyn restaurant, will launch their first food cart in the borough at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Calexico will locate on the northern edge of Pier 1’s Bridge View Lawn, serving tacos, quesadillas, and other Mexican-style fare. Rounding out the Pier 1 food concessions at the southern edge of the Harbor View Lawn will be Brooklyn-based Blue Marble Ice Cream, known for their famous organic ice cream flavors as well as other prepared foods.
“The park is shaping up to be a truly spectacular New York City landmark, and it’s an honor to be selected as one of its first vendors,” said Jesse Vendley, part-owner of Calexico Carne Asada. “As proud Brooklynites, we’re thrilled by the prospect of serving our food in the shadow of the borough’s greatest symbol – the Brooklyn Bridge!”
Vendors were selected from responses to the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation’s February 25, 2010 Request for Proposals. The proposals were evaluated in terms of the following criteria: fee proposal, operating experience, capital investment and design, planned operations, financial capability, and environmental concerns. Today’s vote by the BBPDC Board of Directors was the final step in a thorough review process. Concessions are expected to open mid-summer.
