SWAINTON — Aramark Sports and Entertainment Services, LLC was awarded by freeholders on Tue., Feb. 8 a five-year lease, to begin March 1, 2011, for concessions at the Cape May County Park and Zoo.
The award was tabled on Jan. 25 after Richard Wall, attorney for competitor and previous concession operator B&N Services, Inc. of Villas questioned the proposal procedure and award. That led Freeholders Gerald Thornton and Susan Sheppard to seek tabling of the measure. Both joined the unanimous vote for Aramark to get the lease on Feb. 8.
Thornton told peers “I think we need to tighten the RFP (request for proposal) process.” After review of the gross sale figures, he concluded, “It will probably benefit us,” but maintained his “Reservation being in a partnership with a concession. It does benefit us.”
Sheppard said that, after review of Aramark’s proposal, “What struck me, and I don’t want to seconc guess the bid committee, I was really impressed by Aramark’s devotion to the zoo by guaranteeing $100,000 in capital right off the bat. That put me over the tipping scal, if they were willing to commit $100,000 without getting into revenue.”
“The review committee looked at other facilities on the East Coast to see how they operated,” said Director Daniel Beyel. “We were the only one tht, until this year, had one time payment scheduled. All others are tied into economic activity and partnership.”
Aramark, headquartered at 1101 Market St., Philadelphia, will share its revenue with the county in the amount of 17 percent up to $1 million of concession sales and 24 percent over $1 million for the lease’s duration.
Contact Campbell at (609) 886-8600 Ext 28 or at: al.c@cmcherald.com
Sea Isle City – I would like to let everyone know that the fire chief salary also includes 4% raises in the next four years, while they offered public works and everybody else much less.
