Pershing Square Concession Stand Remains Empty After RFP Produces Zero Bids
Eric Richardson
[Flickr]
The bright yellow cafe space at Pershing Square has little in the way of amenities, but a recent RFP sought large commitments from an operator.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Pershing Square's bright yellow cafe space was a highlight of the park's 1994 redesign, intended to be centerpoint of six spots in the park where passersby could pick up a bite to eat.
Today it sits empty, and it looks like it will remain that way in the near future.
A request for proposal (RFP) put out by the City's Recreation & Parks Department in August to attract a concessionaire received zero bids.
"There were no proposals submitted to the RFP for Pershing Square Food and Beverage Concession. The RFP deadline has past and we are not extending the deadline," said Raymond Chang, Concessions Unit, Recreation and Parks.
That doesn't necessarily mean there was no interest, though.
“After reading the RFP my head spun on the amount of paperwork and procedure they are requiring just to get considered for the space," said Jon Toktas, owner of Arda's Cafe on 6th Street. "No wonder no one signed on."
The document required any bidder to invest a minimum of $250,000 for expansion and renovation of the cafe space, operate from 6:30am to 10pm, and be willing to be shut down up to 14 days each year for special events.
The RFP also asked for a rent proposal that is at least four percent of gross receipts produced by food and beverage sales with a minimum of $12,000 per year. “The rent they are asking for is okay, although paying four percent of gross seems a bit steep. They should allow the operator to keep his earning,” said Toktas.
At the end of five years, Recreation and Parks would maintain an option as to whether the chosen operator would be extended.
Toktas says that he’s long eyed the spot and has seen concession operators start and fail. “The space is a challenge. Anyone going in there needs to seriously consider the challenges of being open for so many hours in that park environment," he said. "For me to be in the space, I would need greater flexibility from Parks and Recreation."
What's next for the space remains up in the air. According to Chang, the deadline for RFP bids was not extended. "The concessions unit is awaiting guidance from upper management on whether we should fill the space at Pershing Square," said Chang.
Toktas wouldn’t be opposed to considering the space but says the Parks department needs to do more than write an RFP. “The department could first let local business owners who have been here know about the RFP. The people that put them together never really go out into the community of business owners who already have a clear idea of what the neighborhood could support,“ said Toktas.
Guest on October 25, 2010, at 03:34PM – #1
Nothing says "can't do" like Rec & Parks. Typical city of LA red tape. Demanding more rent from a space that has been empty for years... now the space will continue to sit empty because of their burdensome demands.
The only silver lining is that there won't be a tenant to put up a fuss when the park gets bulldozed for a much-needed redesign. If that ever happens.
Brigham Yen on October 25, 2010, at 03:36PM – #2
I personally think it's a bad idea to sign on any "long term" tenant since Pershing Square in its current state is a travesty and there is no band aid solution to its current flawed design. The colors are grotesque and the ingress/egress issues are unavoidable.
There is a consensus in the community that IF we acquired QUIMBY FUNDS (such as from a rejuvenated and realized Park Fifth project), we would prefer that Pershing Square be completely revamped and hopefully bringing the "park" back to its original design.
Pershing Square (not unlike Union Square in SF) COULD have the potential to become the most significant public space in Los Angeles if done right and complemented by future positive developments from the surrounding neighborhoods. However, it's current condition is unacceptable and putting in a restaurant will not activate the park as some people hope for because the flaw is inherently in the bunker-like design of the space.
SCboi on October 25, 2010, at 05:56PM – #3
"The concessions unit is awaiting guidance from upper management on whether we should fill the space at Pershing Square," said Chang." Say what? This is the Kafka-esque technospeak that I find to be so indicative of the thinking at Rec. and Parks. The vision is just not there. This department should be stripped of its administrative oversight over the use of Quimby funds, park design, concessions, and special events planning. It's just proven to be too inept for too long. We'd do better to have private contractors manage and oversee our parks.
Brigham, I understand completely your frustration. Having several eateries in Pershing Square is a no-brainer. Restaurateurs should be lining up for this opportunity. That they're not is upsetting. As someone who walks through the park almost every evening to and from the gym, there are charming elements to recommend it. I think that it's unlikely that we'll have money in the next 5 years to overhaul the park. I think the overhaul should be in the programming in the park. There should simply be more activity like the ice rink, period. There should be more live theater, live dance, live music. There should be workout areas, more trees, children's play apparatus. Union Square in New York has such wonderful children's equipment, recently installed. That same apparatus could absolutely be installed here and actually be used year-round! Why can't the Art Walk expand across Broadway and into the park? I feel like the park that we actually have could be so much better utilized with even a bit of imagination. The gobbledy-gook statement at the top of this paragraph isn't exactly brimming with it. Let's get it together people!
Guest on October 25, 2010, at 06:40PM – #4
For decades it's been "Perishing Square", perhaps when King Cyrus the Greats statue is installed, complements of the Deljanie Family things will improve. One can only wish for the old reflecting pools and lawns to be restored. Also, maybe, just maybe a public restroom like the ones in other parks. Go figure, only in L.A.
Guest on October 25, 2010, at 07:24PM – #5
Bringham Yen......exactly. well put.
Karin Liljegren on October 25, 2010, at 08:43PM – #6
wow, pretty sad on SO many levels.
Friskie Buffet on October 25, 2010, at 09:03PM – #7
If you want to be envious AND depressed, go up to San Francisco and take a stroll around the beautifully designed and VIBRANT Union Square.
Guest on October 25, 2010, at 09:52PM – #8
Pershing Square's a place that has been allowed to belong to the homeless. In light of that, Parks & Recreation's terms seem 1000% undoable to the wise, observant businessman.
Pershing Square could have a great vibe, just like San Francisco's Union Square, maybe if the space got cleared out of the permanent homeless residents, and given back to the residents of downtown who pay rent, and pay mortgages and property tax.
I lived next to Pershing Square for four years - I love parks, and being able to stroll around or go outside and read a book - and not once did I ever sit in Pershing Square because of the level 10 harrassment by the homeless residents. That's why there's no business.
Suggestion to Parks & Rec - Clear out the space - give it back to the renters, homeowners and taxpayers who pick up the bill for the space - then you'll make some money off of it.
Brigham Yen on October 25, 2010, at 11:50PM – #9
Guests #7 & 8 - Please read my comment above.
The space, park, concrete wasteland, Pershing Square, whatever you want to call it, is inherently flawed in its design. Sure it has similarities to Union Square in SF (which I mentioned) because of the surrounding context, but it stops there.
A major part of it is the limited ingress/egress to the park that prevent the space from ever becoming what parks are SUPPOSED TO DO in an urban context, which is to be a CROSSROADS for people who are going somewhere in any and all directions in a true urban and walkable environment, in addition to those who seek respite and people watching.
That kind of energy created by random and dynamic daily activity of walking (not just an ice rink or music program) is what great public spaces are known for in cities that LA aspires to be (NY, London, Tokyo, Paris, Chicago, etc.).
It should be reiterated and re-emphasized that this park's design was and is a miserable failure - a travesty. It's not worth it to spend another dime trying in vain to remedy a problem much deeper than just having "a restaurant or two" in the park. Save the money, put it in a pot toward the next economic boom. Obviously, we hope that LA will stick around for at least another few hundred years, so one day, it might redeem itself as a fully functional public space surrounded by prosperous vibrant urban energy.
misslapin on October 26, 2010, at 09:02AM – #10
Interesting to read that the current design was finance by a private/public group including property owners in the area http://www.publicartinla.com/Downtown/figueroa/Pershing_Square_History/pershing_history.html I completely agree with Mr. Yen's well-stated comments.
Guest on October 26, 2010, at 10:25AM – #11
To guest # 4, while I agree that harassment and drinking in public and/or doing drugs in public should not be tolerated in Pershing Square I think advocating banning homeless people from any public park especially Downtown is to be unrealistic and uninformed.
Most of the services for the disenfranchised are concentrated Downtown. Los Angeles has had a policy of containment for a very long time. Many of the homeless Downtown are Vets, the elderly, disabled and the mentally ill. This is their Downtown too, and one that they have lived in for over 100 years if you were to look at the history of Skid Row. Unless the rest of Los Angeles wants to start ramping up its facilities to care for and house this cities most vulnerable I think we need to consider how we all might live together in harmony the best we can
Rich Alossi on October 26, 2010, at 01:55PM – #12
I actually don't like the design of Union Square SF (the plaza area) that much. It's full of concrete, with more barren areas than Pershing Square. In fact, I'd say the concrete-to-greenery ratio is similar to, if not higher than Pershing.
BUT, as a public space, it works extremely well because of the way it interacts with the surrounding streets and neighborhood.
I always point out that where Union Square has stairs leading into the park that also function as seating, Pershing Square has unusable walls blocking sight lines. Where Union Square's parking ramps meet the street at perpendicular angles -- thereby maximizing the usable sidewalk space -- Pershing Square's ramps run the length of the entire sidewalk.
The sidewalks on 5th and 6th are so incredibly small as to be a joke, and the cars zoom out of the garage onto 5th without regard for pedestrians at all. It's clear what demographics Pershing Square was designed for.
I fear that a radical redesign of Pershing Square to address its fatal flaws (the parking ramps) is going to be a long time out. The only way to really fix the issue, barring a complete redo of the entire structure, would be to close off two ramps, the 6th Street side and the Hill Street side. Vehicles approaching the garage from 6th can enter on Olive Street easily, and vehicles coming from Hill Street can then enter the garage on 5th Street easily.
Closing the ramps, then bridging them, can bring the park back to the street.
Guest on October 26, 2010, at 08:17PM – #13
The park cafe did have people who were interested in renting the Pershing cafe. I was at am advsiory meeting and Dan Swartz the then president had just about secured the deal. That was over a year ago. Why did the recreation department hold up the deal? No cafe but hey recreation is more than happy to keep the park a playground for duggies and homless.
FM SHerman on October 26, 2010, at 09:54PM – #14
What is the square footage of the space? Important to gauge the fairness of that rental rate.
Thanks
Fred SHPRecords http://www.shprecords.com
Thomas K Nagano on October 27, 2010, at 09:55AM – #15
Among the NOs'at Pershing Square Park is No loitering. TK
Guest on October 27, 2010, at 03:36PM – #16
If you're tired of the long-standing, wasted space that is Pershing Square (an embarrassment to Downtown), fight for it relentlessly. The noisy kid gets fed first.
Until then, be jealous of the long functioning Union Square:
http://www.unionsquareshop.com/
Brigham Yen on October 27, 2010, at 04:21PM – #17
Guest #16 - I agree with you that the DT community should be up in arms clamoring and throwing their growing political weight on Jan Perry, etc. to encourage our politicians to seek the necessary funding that will be needed to completely overhaul the egregiously bad design of Pershing Square. Given LA's track record, that might take at least $20 million in this case.
However, as I repeated numerous times in several threads before regarding the Jewelry District, Union Square in SF is also surrounded by a completely different context.
Union Square in SF is surrounded by luxury retailers with beautiful window displays (especially during the Holidays) and a magnet for tourists and visitors from all parts of the Bay Area.
Pershing Square in LA is surrounded by a jewelry stores that shut down promptly at 5pm with roll down gates for many store fronts. The energy is quickly lost around Pershing Square. Furthermore, although selling jewelry is great, it is not relevant to people except for very special occasions (due to their price tags no matter how discounted they may be). With clothes and restaurants, I know shopaholics that might find themselves buying some article of clothing every week. Will they do that with jewelry? No, not likely, unless you aspire to be the Imelda Marcos of diamonds.
That is why I support the idea of relocating many of the jewelry stores SOUTH of 7th Street along Hill. There are still many empty plots of land where brand new buildings can be built to accommodate jewelry merchants, while giving back the most beautiful historic buildings to higher end retailers and restaurants that would surround Pershing Square, giving it a new life and relevancy to millions of visitors and residents annually.
Guest on October 27, 2010, at 06:02PM – #18
And within this line from the article: "The concessions unit is awaiting guidance from upper management.." lies exactly why nothing will happen and we'll be stuck with the useless eyesore unless Jan Perry, et al, get absolutely sick of hearing about how we demand a better use of this space.
awaiting from upper management = inertia
Guest on October 27, 2010, at 08:30PM – #19
Pershing Square has tons of money end of story. The community needs to demand that the park funds be made public. The community needs to demand that the money be used on grass for the pet section. The community needs to demand that money be spent on freakin light bulbs. Come on recreation dept.
Guest on October 27, 2010, at 10:41PM – #20
I actually don't like the design of Union Square SF (the plaza area) that much. It's full of concrete, with more barren areas than Pershing Square.
The crucial difference between Pershing Square and some other city's public space is not so much good or bad design, but the huge amount of economic health and credibility that vanished from downtown Los Angeles starting over 60 years ago. Or that was never really there to begin with.
That's the crux of the problem, far more than it's a case of soft-goods stores being friendlier to the needs of a public park than stores selling specialty items like diamonds, pearls and other jewelry---although the assumption made by #17 is partly true.
The moral of the story is that any self-respecting city should always do everything possible to preserve and enhance its prosperity, not to mention reputation. Because so many folks in LA couldn't figure this out, or didn't care, the city came painfully close to being about as bad as a sunnier version of some tired, mediocre, washed-up Midwestern burg.
Guest on October 28, 2010, at 11:35AM – #21
Pershing Square needs a giant work of art smack in the middle of it. Perhaps with a water element.
Guest on November 03, 2010, at 06:47PM – #22
Leave it to the typical stupid city policies to screw up even an RFP. Great job guys!
David Klappholz on November 04, 2010, at 06:42AM – #23
Brigham Yen's analysis of what's wrong with Pershing Square, as compared to SF's Union Square, is right on. Appropriate restaurants and shops on all sides would make all the difference in the world, even though Pershing Square's design is abysmal...which is not to say that I wouldn't also love to see Pershing Square redesigned.