By Patrick Hedlund
Union Sq. taking bids
The bidding for Union Square’s pavilion space is set to begin in two months, giving restaurateurs a shot at landing arguably one of the city’s most sought-after dining destinations.
The city will soon issue a request for proposals (R.F.P.) to operate a seasonal cafe in the park’s recently refurbished north-end pavilion, a controversial location critics contend should be left open to the public and not run by a private organization.
According to the New York Post, the winning bidder will receive a 15-year lease to operate an indoor/outdoor restaurant in the renovated space six months out of the year, as well as run a “satellite cart or kiosk” on the plaza.
The estimated $20 million overhaul, a public-private partnership between the city Parks Department and Union Square Partnership business improvement district, marks the culmination of a park restoration that began in the 1980s.
A lawsuit filed by advocates for the pavilion’s use as a public space had delayed construction of the pavilion for nearly a year before being dismissed in March, paving the way for the restaurant.
Expect a handful of big-name restaurateurs to throw their hats in during the bidding process.
Sixth Ave. Trader?
Cheap-chic grocer Trader Joe’s may move into a new space in Chelsea, expanding from its original outpost on the edge of the East Village.
The supermarket — known for featuring original brands and being a lower-cost alternative to trendy purveyors like Whole Foods Market — is reportedly in discussions to take over the former Barnes & Noble space on Sixth Ave. between 21st and 22nd Sts.
The more than 41,000-square-foot property, on the retail-rich stretch known as Ladies’ Mile, has been on the market since early 2008 when the bookseller bowed out. Asking rent for the space was rumored to be in the $200-to-$250 per square foot range after it hit the market more than a year and a half ago.
The grocer’s arrival would certainly up the shopping competition in the neighborhood, with a Whole Foods located just blocks away at Seventh Ave. and 24th St. The original New York Trader Joe’s store is located on 14th St. between Irving Place and Third Ave.
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