Michael Laven, contract manager at the Pensacola International Airport, sent notification to Creative Food Group -that includes The Fish House, Varona’s, Bagelheads and Pensacola Brewery, that the food concession lease will not be discussed in December.
Hayward recommended to the city council at its Sept. 26 regular meeting the 10-year concession contract should be awarded to OHM Concessions—which included Chick-fil-A, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Surf City Squeeze and Corona Beach House.
The issue was tabled at the meeting when the Creative Food Group, the local restaurants’ employees and citizens spoke out in favor of their more local proposal. Since then, the mayor has pulled the item off the council’s agenda twice.
At the Oct. 22 agenda review when asked why the item was being pulled for the second time, City Administrator Colleen Castille said, “We’ve been evaluating a number of pieces of information. We’re still in the process of evaluating that.”
Here’s the email:
From: Michael Laven
Date: December 2, 2013 at 11:16:52 AM EST
To: “‘saniya@creativefoodgroup.com'”
Cc: Andrea KvechSubject: Pensacola Food and Beverage Concession Lease
Please be advised that the Airport Director will not be bringing the Food and Beverage concession lease agreement to the Pensacola City Council during its December, 2013 meeting. Both the Director and the Mayor will be out of the country on business.
We believe that the scheduling of this concession will take place in January or February of 2014.
Michael B. Laven, CPA, A.A.E.
Airport Administration & Contracts Manager
Pensacola International Airport
2430 Airport Blvd., Suite 225
Pensacola, FL 32504
According to Robert de Varona, his contract for food services at the airport is up in March 2014. The mayor’s postponements give little time for any new vendors to come in and do the necessary site work to be open for business by April 2014. Remember these proposals were sent into the city this past June.