FUTURE TRAIN STATION CONCESSION OPERATOR UNKNOWN

After Coffee Lady Joyce Reynolds retires at the end of the year it could be several weeks before a new proprietor for the concessions stand she runs is found.

NJ Transit, which currently leases the concessions for Reynolds’ space and the Maplewood Concierge space also in the station to Art Christensen, is requiring Christensen and any other interested tenants to submit proposals to occupy the station and run the concession in 2013.

For the past 14 years, Reynolds has subleased her space through Christensen. But with that lease ending at the end of 2012, Reynolds has decided to retire.

Christensen said he is submitting a proposal to keep leasing the entire concession space, but must compete with others.

“NJ Transit has told us all stations and all leases require an RFP [request for proposal], and we have done that, along with 3 or 4 other companies who are interested and showed up to do a walk-through of the station last week,” he told Maplewoodian.com.

Nancy Snyder, a NJ Transit spokesperson, confirmed the proposal bidding process and said all bids must be in by Dec. 14.

“We are in the middle of this procurement process,” she said. “The [requests] are due Dec. 14. Once they are received by Dec. 14 we review the bids and make sure they have all the materials we ask to be provided, we review the bids, and select a particular concierge concession vendor.”

She said it could take several weeks to review the bids, but that Christensen’s lease becomes a month-to-month lease after Dec. 31, 2012, until the bids are reviewed and the new proprietor chosen.

“We expect the new opening to be on or about May 20, 2013,” she said.

The request for proposals that was issued earlier this year and contains the bidding information is below:

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
Maplewood Station
Newsstand, “Hotel Style” Concierge and Coffee Shop Concession

NJ TRANSIT is interested in receiving Expressions of Interest from experienced, financially sound individuals or entities to propose the operation of a Newsstand, “Hotel Style” Concierge and Coffee Shop at NJ TRANSIT’s Maplewood Station.

NJ TRANSIT’s Maplewood Station attracts approximately 3,037 weekday patrons from NJ TRANSIT commuter rail lines.  Maplewood Station is located in Essex County within the Township of Maplewood.

The demised premises consist of approximately 350 square feet currently utilized for a newsstand, coffee shop and concierge service with a portion of the space allocated for storage.  The “hotel style” concierge services will include, but not be limited to drop off and pick up services, i.e., dry cleaning, shoe repair, etc.  The service will also provide Jitney bus schedules and tickets, parking permits, voter registration forms and general township information.   

Please submit your written Expression of Interest on your letterhead or by visiting www.njtransit.com (see Doing Business With/Leasing Opportunities) and clicking the link in the advertisement for Maplewood Station.  Your written Expression of Interest must be post-marked or your email received no later than September 21, 2012. No telephone Expressions of Interest will be accepted.

Expressions of Interest should be sent to:

Rhianon Lepree
Manager, Property Management
NJ Transit-Real Estate & Economic Development
One Penn Plaza East Newark, New Jersey 07105-2246
RE: Maplewood Station

Located in Maplewood, New Jersey
Newsstand, Concierge, Coffee Concession