02/03/2012

Gelato joins the offering of concessions available at Fort Williams Park beginning April 1

Visitors to Fort Williams Park will see some familiar faces as the park's food vendor program returns for a second trial season.

Town Manager Michael McGovern announced the award of four permits, three to vendors who had permits for either a full or half season last year. Returning will be:

• Atlantic Cookie Company of Cape Elizabeth, selling lobster rolls, coffee, donuts, cookies, chips and beverages on the north side of Captain Strout Circle;
• Karl and Sarah Sutton of South Portland, selling lobster rolls, Moxie, hot dogs, chips and ice cream at the eastern end of the Parade Ground; and,
• Frank’s Franks, also of South Portland, selling hot dogs, kielbasa, smart dogs, sandwiches, snacks and drinks on the south side of Captain Strout Circle.

New this season will be Gorgeous Gelato, LLC, of Portland, which will be selling gelato, beverages and snacks at a new location near Ships Cove beach.

Each bid a minimum vendor fee of $4,000, except for Gorgeous Gelato, which bid $3,950. McGovern said Gelato vendors Donato Giovone and Mariagrazia Zanardi had bid $5,000 to sell at one of the other locations, but the selection committee opted to grant permits to vendors returning to those sites and accepted Gelato's bid of $3,950 for the beach site.

The four vendors were the only ones to bid for the 2012 program, McGovern said. If the pilot program continues to go well, the Town may award permits for more than one season at a time.

The bids were reviewed by McGovern, Fort Williams Advisory Commission member Erin Grady and Chairman Bill Nickerson, and Public Works Director Robert Malley.

Vendors may begin selling as early as April 1, 2012, a change from last year's start date of May 1.