Staten Island Ferry riders will soon be able to buy food and drinks again on board, the Adams administration announced Tuesday.
The city’s Department of Transportation (DOT) and Economic Development Corporation (EDC) said a request for proposals (RFP) had been issued seeking vendors interested in supplying refreshments, potentially including booze, to seafaring commuters. Food and drink have been unavailable on the orange ferries since before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There are few better feelings than taking in the Manhattan skyline from the Staten Island Ferry with a cold beverage in hand,” said DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “It’s a 25-minute trip, and commuters should be able to conveniently purchase coffees, snacks, and other items while they’re aboard.”
The RFP is open to interested vendors until March 7, and the city hopes to have food service restored on the ferry by this fall. The selected vendor would sign a 10 year franchise agreement, but could run the stand for an additional decade if the deal is extended.
The vendor will not be required to sell beer or other libation, but if they choose to, the city hopes they’ll choose booze created from local craft breweries on Manhattan or Staten Island.
In a release, DOT and EDC said the vendor will be chosen based on experience in the field, financial capacity, and the types of products they plan to offer.
Items offered in the past have included doughnuts, muffins, pretzels, nachos, hot dogs, and cheeseburgers; on the drinks side, passengers were able to buy coffee, iced tea, or a selection of domestic and imported beers.
The free ferry transports about 45,000 passengers each day, and boasts some of the most magnificent views across the five boroughs.
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