Request for proposal to lease and manage a restaurant facility at the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market in Colfax, NC.

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is seeking qualified operators to lease and manage a newly renovated restaurant facility located at 2914 Sandy Ridge Drive in Colfax, NC, within the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market. The facility, a one-story building featuring a commercial kitchen, two dining areas, a meeting space, and a bar, is offered “as is,” with the tenant responsible for all furnishings, appliances, refrigeration units, shelving, freezers, dining furniture, and additional equipment necessary for operations. Proposals must be submitted electronically via the North Carolina eProcurement Vendor Portal by 4:00 PM ET on July 24, 2026, using the official PO-28 Proposal Form and include an executive summary, operational plan, background details, and supporting documentation such as three letters of recommendation, at least one from a supplier attesting to business and management capabilities, and current resumes. The lease term is set for five to ten years, with renewal options to be specified by the proposer, and is anticipated to commence on or around September 1, 2026. The tenant must be a North Carolina-registered business entity operating at least six days per week, preferably including weekends and evenings, and is required to provide year-round service with a menu that includes alcohol. All alterations, improvements, and equipment installations require prior written approval from the State, and any such improvements become the property of the State upon lease termination. The tenant is fully responsible for maintaining the premises in acceptable condition, including cleaning floors and walls, conducting biannual exhaust hood inspections, managing waste and grease disposal, ensuring rodent and pest control, keeping drain lines clear, and paying all utilities—electric, gas, water, sewage, internet, trash removal, and security alarms. Additionally, the tenant must obtain and maintain all necessary permits, including ABC licenses, and comply with all federal, state, county, and municipal regulations, including a mandatory Grade “A” sanitation rating from the Guilford County Health Department. The tenant is prohibited from offering drive-through service, selling lottery tickets or games of chance without written consent, or providing live animals, and all advertising must be approved by the State prior to use. Financial obligations include monthly rent payments due by the 10th of each month to the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market Office, with an initial flat-rate proposal required for the first year and annual increases of at least 2% beginning in Year 2. Late payments incur interest at the state