Vendor who will sell “gourmet” and “ethnic” food at Barber Park is county’s preference

The Grady County Board of Commissioners is looking for a new operator of the concession stands at Barber Park and an operator who will offer “interesting foods, gourmet foods or ethnic foods” will have a leg up on the competition, according to county officials.
Proposals will be accepted up until noon on Feb. 15.
In a public notice published on Page A2 of this issue of The Messenger, the county invites prospective concessionaires to submit proposals.
According to an 11-page Request for Proposals (RFP) produced by County Administrator Carlos Tobar, the two concession stands at Barber Park are to be open during the spring and fall sports seasons on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights. The successful contractor will also be notified of camps and tournaments to be held at the park so that accommodations can be made to open the concessions for those events, as well.
Tobar briefed commissioners last month that the current concessionaire, Robert Burks Kimmel Jr., d.b.a. Hawg Lick Smokehouse, is no longer interested in providing the service. Kimmel has operated the concessions at the park since April 2014.
County commissioners are looking for a concessionaire who will pay the county the most in concession fees, while selling concessions at the lowest prices.
According to the RFP, the county commission will give preference to proposals offering “interesting foods, gourmet foods, or ethnic foods.”
The RFP also stipulates that vendors who wish to utilize a Pepsi Cola soda fountain at the park will be required to have a $15,000 line of credit.
The county prohibits the sale of tobacco products, alcoholic beverages or any products in glass containers.
Tobar is requiring all prospective concessionaires to register with the commissioners’ office at the courthouse in order to receive a copy of the RFP.
The Grady County Commission is expected to vote to accept a proposal at its Feb. 21 meeting with the concession service to begin on April 3.