Media Release
CONTACT:
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kevin
C. Rabago (856) 451-3407
Sunrise
Catering (804)319-5523
BRIDGETON LAUNCHS NEW
MOBILE FOOD VENDING OPERATION FOR CITY PARK
With the growth of
gourmet-style food trucks and a 350 acre city park chock full of things to do, Bridgeton
Mayor Albert Kelly sees the pairing of food trucks and City Park as a potentially
winning combination.
Beginning Memorial Day
weekend, visitors to the park and zoo will be able to grab a cold drink, a
quick snack, or something more as they
enjoy the Cohanzick Zoo, Splash Park,
mini-golf, basketball, soccer and eventually a planned futsal court all without
having to leave the confines of City Park.
Some months in the making,
Kelly inked the deal with Newark NJ-based Sunrise Catering to manage, operate
and recruit other vendors to create a food park within the park, all with the goal
of having multiple food choices available throughout the year.
“City Park is a great
setting, not only for those spending an afternoon outdoors on the weekend, but
for anyone looking for a good bite to eat on lunch break where they want to
relax and recharge. I like it as an alternative because it offers something
different than standard brick and mortar eateries” said Kelly.
The focus according to
Zainab Kents, Aisha Kents, and Eugene Thompson, owner-operators of Sunrise
Catering, is to offer variety and quick service at good prices. In addition to
their own operation featuring Caribbean cuisine, they will work to recruit
other vendors into the park for variety.
“As the managers for the
food park within the park, we will be operating year around, but we are looking
for vendors with different menus to offer lots of choices. It will take time to
get established, but the park is a great place and we’ll be focused on how best
to serve the community” said Zainab Kents.
Starting out at Sunset
Lake, Sunrise Catering will operate in the park from 11am to 7pm on Monday,
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and 12 noon to 6:00pm on Sundays.
The focus, according to
Kents, will be on building a relationship with the community during the
upcoming summer season and working specific events and locations in the park
throughout the year
“During the work week,
people have limited time, so we want to be that option that gives them
excellent food at a good price with quick service so they don’t lose time
waiting. Those enjoying the park on the weekends also want quick service. It’s
not fast food, but food fast” said Kents.
Beyond the food, the park
also lends itself to entertainment, which is something Sunrise Catering hopes
to build on during their first year.
“The park offers several
good opportunities for food truck festivals, music, and other special events at
the amphitheater, Splash Park, or the zoo” said Kents.
For Kelly and City officials,
having a mobile food vending park is a revenue-positive way to tap into a $2.7
billion industry while also adding an important piece to the renewed focus on City
Park as a destination.
The one-year agreement
with Sunrise Catering has a 12 month renewal clause and a successful mobile
food vending operation means revenues that will be reinvested back into City
Park.
“Having food trucks in
City Park is part of taking our park and zoo to the next level. In addition to
serving our many guests and visitors to the park, this arrangement provides
revenue that will allow us to continue to improve out park and make it the best
it can be” said Kelly.
Anyone interested in being
part of the mobile food vending park in City Park can get additional
information by calling Sunrise Catering at (804)319-5523
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