Cafe Partner

The Ives Memorial Library, designed by world renowned architect Cass Gilbert, opened its doors in 1911 and serves as the front door on the historic New Haven Green and across the city to all members of the community, welcoming nearly 300,000 guests annually. It is open 6 days a week, Monday — Thursday from 10am to 8pm and Friday and Saturday from 10am to 5pm. An estimated 80 to 100+ library users are in the building at any given hour along with about 25 to 30 library staff. The original Ives Library facility was expanded in 1990 and the new café is located in the addition to the library, including 900+ sq. ft. of interior space and the capacity to open up the patio overlooking the New Haven Green on Elm Street with an additional 900+ sq. ft. for seasonal outdoor enjoyment. Thus, the total potential café space combined is 1,800 sq. ft. (Exhibit A is the architect's drawing of the café space.) The Ives Squared Cafe serves as a catalyst to attract a diverse user base to the library and its operator is expected to understand and promote the mission of the library overall' as well as the specific goals of "Ives Squared," the newly renovated space for 21st-century learning, entrepreneurship and civic engagement. The Café is a unique business opportunity, situated within a new service and program sector of the library that seeks to attract a cross section of New Haven residents in creative placemaking, civic dialog, small business development, and community building. By opening up café services onto the patio, the site offers the successful Operator wide exposure and visibility to the public from one of New Haven's essential traffic arteries and public transportation hubs, namely Elm Street between Temple and Church Street, adjacent to the New Haven Green. The library's primary objective is to develop a stable, successful operation that will be maintained and operated at the highest standards. The Café makes a significant improvement to the quality of Ives Squared operations and ambience of the library and its community while providing a convenience for the public. All café operations and events conducted during regular business hours of the library must be open to the public. Café Coffee/Beverage and Food Service The Library seeks to partner with a caterer, restaurateur or coffee shop who would offer a variety of light fare including lunch food (either freshly prepared and/or prepared and packaged off-site), snacks, and beverages, including espresso/cappuccino coffee/tea options. The meal design is to include breakfast items, lunch, snacks and coffee/tea with possible service into the evening (until 8pm, M-Th and until 5pm, F-Sat). Examples of food include: bagels, pastries, breakfast sandwiches, scones, salads, paninis, lunch sandwiches, and snacks as well as an array of hot and cold beverages, including smoothies, espresso, steamed milk coffees and teas. The food and beverages offered need to be of high quality, with good variety and good value. The Library welcomes specialty food services that represent local, seasonal, healthy products, emblematic of New Haven's reputation as a food conscious farm to table town. Proposals with business plans that feature workforce development; representation from New Haven's culturally rich and diverse population, including refugees and immigrants; or social impact attributes are strongly encouraged to promote the café as a destination space with unique characteristics. Proposers who build on the interests of the library clientele, for example through broadcast of community voices, storytelling, author talks or music, are also encouraged.