Historic Fire Station Could Become New Business

COACHELLA – The city of Coachella is now seeking proposals to transform the historic downtown fire station building into a new business.

The relocation of the city’s Water and Finance Departments to the Civic Center opens up this prime piece of real estate on Sixth Street in front of City Hall.

“We’re really excited about the possibility of a new restaurant that will not only serve the people of Coachella, but attract people from across the Valley,” says Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez. “Imagine coming out to enjoy a unique dining experience, and then sticking around to explore the many murals in the area or stroll the shops downtown.”

The proposal calls for a restaurant, bar, non-cannabis retail store, sales tax generating business or art gallery to locate in the two-story building. While the tenant will be able to redesign the interior, the existing mural on the outside of the building will remain.

“Following the success of Sixth Street Coffee in the new library building, we see this as another opportunity to expand our business base in the Pueblo Viejo area,” says Coachella Economic Development Manager Gabriel Martinez. “This will bring a unique restaurant or shop that will ultimately attract more customers to the existing downtown businesses as well.”

Some of the goals/objective of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to award a long term lease to an operation who will accomplish the following:

• Provide a unique destination restaurant and/or related retail operation with a distinctive menu/experience that will cater to visitors of the Downtown Pueblo Viejo District and draw people to the area for a memorable experience;
• Develop a creative façade and tenant improvement design that utilizes the current amenities of the City Hall campus;
• Maximize attendance through featured menu items, service, ambiance, and special events marketing;
• Assess, provide, and install all necessary furnishings and equipment in order to create an attractive and inviting destination;
• Implement quality marketing and advertising campaign; and

Coachella will offer the tenant reduced rent until the cost of improvements is recovered. For more details about the Request for Proposal – Old Fire Station Lease, click here or contact City of Coachella Economic Development Manager Gabriel Martin at gmartin@coachella.org or call (760) 398-3502.

The full RFP can be found online by clicking here.