WSDOT seeks proposals for temporary Montlake Market vendor space

Montlake Market has closed, the property deemed necessary for the Montlake Project portion of WSDOT’s SR-520 Bridge Replacement and HOV Program.

To fill the void, WSDOT has put out a request for proposal (RFP) to place either a small community market or food truck on a portion of the property. Proposals are due by 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21.

Most of the site will be an active construction area, but 1,400 square feet will be set aside for a vendor space on the southwest corner of the property fronting East Roanoke Street.

The RFP asks applicants about their existing business and how it would meet the desires laid out by the community in a survey launched last fall. Seventy-three percent of respondents live in Montlake, and the top-rated reasons they went to Montlake Market were for groceries, produce and prepared meals.

Eighty-one percent of survey takers responded favorably to WSDOT’s proposal to allow a temporary market, food truck or coffee stand on the property. Respondents, given two choices, voted most strongly for a small market and food trucks space at 48.1 percent and 43.8 percent, respectively.

A draft of the ground lease provided with the RFP states the lease would be for three years. Rent would be $425 per month.

WSDOT is holding an information session for prospective vendors 3-4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28, at the Montlake Project Drop-In Center, across from the Montlake Market site, at 2209 E. Lake Washington Blvd.