Long-Term Corona Plaza Outdoor Concession Operator Wanted To Manage Other Stands, Keep Area Vibrant, Clean, Safe

NYC DOT ANNOUNCES SEARCH FOR LONG-TERM CORONA PLAZA OUTDOOR  CONCESSION OPERATOR

NYC DOT is seeking concessionaire for the development, operation, and maintenance of an outdoor stall concession at Corona Plaza in Queens

Editor’s note: Corona Plaza in Queens is located close to the area where residents protested, seeking clean, safe streets, and shortly after this, many of the vendors in Corona Plaza were made to leave, as they were operating without licenses.  In the video in that article, Rep. AOC notes that there have been no new licenses issued for several years, making it impossible for these vendors to operate legally. This program seeks to change that, and it currently seeks a new operator for an outdoor stall and concession stand.   

As the above-referenced article stated, the DOT website says, “Non-veterans who want a license can apply to be on a waiting list only during specific application periods. Currently, the waiting list is closed and won’t reopen until the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) has run through the current pool of non-veteran applicants. The deadline to apply for the last application period was November 15, 2016.”

New York – New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced the start of a search for an operator for the long-term outdoor stall concession at Corona Plaza, in Queens. The operator will manage the 15,000 square foot plaza to ensure a vibrant, clean, and safe stall concession area for the community, as well as be responsible for developing and maintaining a stall concession area of vendors in the plaza selling a wide range of items, from food to jewelry, clothing, or other finely crafted items.

The Request for Proposals (RFP) builds on a plan led by Mayor Eric Adams and Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi, in partnership with local elected officials, community leaders, and other partners, to ensure that Corona Plaza remains a welcoming community and cultural hub. The plan for Corona Plaza delivers on a unanimous recommendation from Mayor Adam’s Street Vendor Advisory Board, which included representatives from city agencies, street vendors, retail food stores, property owners, small businesses, and community organizations.

“When we came into office, we had a clear vision: protect public safety, rebuild our economy, and make this city more livable for working-class New Yorkers. Our long-term vision for Corona Plaza delivers on all fronts, and is a vision that works for all of us — for vendors, for pedestrians, for neighbors, and for our city,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

“We’re off to a good start: The interim plan we implemented late last year set us up for success by addressing the key safety, sanitation, and quality of life concerns while ensuring that vending in the plaza could continue. The RFP we’re issuing today will lock that success in for the long run, securing Corona Plaza’s future as a vibrant community and cultural hub for decades to come.”

“In the months since it was enacted, the Corona Plaza community vending program has delivered a Corona Plaza that has balance and works for everyone– a vibrant space for vending that represents the neighborhood’s diverse cultures, and a plaza and green space that’s available for other community uses,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “We are grateful to the many stakeholders for helping get us to this point, and look forward to securing a long-term operator for the space.”

“Corona Plaza has helped create a vibrant, welcoming community space for tens of thousands of residents of the World’s Borough,” said New York City DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “It’s the cornerstone of the community, and we’re excited to find a concessionaire to ensure that people can safely enjoy the culture of the neighborhood while maintaining a high quality-of-life.”

“Street vendors are a vital part of our city’s cultural landscape and contribute so much to our local economies,” said Department of Consumer and Worker Protection Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga. “Thank you to the Mayor and DOT for creating opportunities for some of our city’s hardest workers and entrepreneurs.”

As in other commercial districts, the third-party operator will address safety, sanitation, and quality-of-life conditions, while city agencies will monitor and take enforcement action as necessary to keep Corona Plaza safe and clean — including the New York City Department of Sanitation for sanitation rules, the New York City Police Department for quality-of-life issues, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) for food safety and permit requirements, and the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) for fire safety and related permit requirements.

Originally built in 2012, Corona Plaza has become an economic and cultural phenomenon, located at a major nexus of transportation in Queens. The long-term RFP builds on the success of the interim community vending area market implemented in late 2023 in close partnership with the Queens Economic Development Corporation.

As with the interim community vending area, all vendors must have a contract with the third-party operator, which will direct vendors to apply for the other permits or licenses they need. All food subconcessionaires will be required to apply for a DOHMH food vending permit that is specific to Corona Plaza, and the third-party operator will need to comply with FDNY rules and regulations.

NYC DOT currently provides, and will continue to direct daily maintenance, horticultural, and operational services via a maintenance partner and frequent programming through NYC DOT’s Public Space Equity Program.

Banner Image: Corona Plaza vendor rally. Image Credit – Rep. AOC