March 28, 2024
Annapolis, US 51 F

Annapolis Seeks Vendors For Market House

For vendors who are interested in the Market House, Annapolis is soliciting applications for short term leases. The following was issued by the City last week:

Mayor Joshua J. Cohen invites vendors to apply for short-term leases at the Market House. An open invitation period began this week and will run until Friday, June 10. The City’s goal is to reopen the historic downtown market on a temporary basis from July 11 through the end of 2011.

The City is seeking locally owned businesses (no chains or franchises) that provide fresh foods, produce and market goods at reasonable cost.

Applications for short-term vendors may be obtained from the Central Purchasing Office at 145 Gorman Street 2nd floor, via e-mail to [email protected] or fax request to 410-263-8120. Applications and a $25 nonrefundable fee are due at 2 p.m. Friday, June 10. Applications should be submitted to Mr. Brian Snyder, Procurement Officer, at the above address.  No late applications will be accepted. Vendors must have all required licenses, permits and insurance at the time of application. Specific selection criteria will be listed on the application.

Vendor interviews will be conducted on Wednesday, June 15. Vendors will be selected and notified on Friday, June 17.

The City will hold an informational meeting and walk-through of the Market House at 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 1, to allow potential vendors to review the tenant spaces and ask questions before applying.

At least 11 short-term vendor spaces are available, and adjacent vendor spaces can be combined to create one larger space. For the short-term vendors, there are no provisions for ventilation required for cooking, such as a griddle or deep frying.

The Market House will be managed by the Market Manager within the Department of Public Works. The hours of operation during the summer will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. After the Boat Shows in October, the market will be closed on Mondays and the operating hours might be modified.

The City Council passed a resolution on March 28 to support the reopening of the Market House on a short-term basis.  The council later endorsed a plan to fund an upgrade of the facility’s air conditioning system, install sprinklers and make other utility modifications before reopening the market at the foot of City Dock. This building improvement project is currently out for construction bids, and is expected to be completed in July.

Next month, the City Council will receive a presentation from BBP LLC, a firm of public-private development advisers based in West Annapolis, on a study to analyze the economics of the Market House. Those finding are expected to frame the City Council’s deliberations on the scope of a potential Request for Proposals for the long-term operations of the historic landmark.

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