19-Jan-18 – Ten-year agreements will be offered to five Chicago Riverwalk vendors, pending approval by the City Council.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel says the longer terms “will improve the visitors’ experience and allow the vendors to establish their destination,” but they will only be offered to vendors “making significant capital improvements and expanding their operations and offerings.”

The City Council has been asked to approve ten-year contracts – each with two possible extensions for five years at a time – for the following vendors...

• Island Party Hut, east of Michigan Avenue.
• City Winery, between State and Dearborn Streets.
• Tiny Tapp and its café and market between Dearborn and Clark Streets.
• Frost Gelato, between LaSalle Drive and Wells Street.

(Left) City Winery, seen from State Street Bridge in 2015.

A new vendor, Northman on the River, will also be offered a ten-year term. One of 22 businesses that responded to a request for proposals due last March, Northman will offer food and beverages on the west side of Columbus Drive, and specialize in cider, according to the city.

A full lineup of 2018 vendors will be made public “in coming weeks.” The city says it will include “educational, cultural, and recreational activities,” along with dining, live entertainment, kayaking, cruises, boat rentals, and water taxis.

One vendor that will not be returning is Cyrano’s. According to Michelle Woods of the city’s Department of Fleet and Facility Management, the café west of Columbus Drive did not submit a proposal to operate a concession in 2018.

The city said last April it would be offering ten-year contracts along with three-year contracts. Money the city gets from vendors goes to pay back loans from the federal government to construct six new sections of Riverwalk between State and Lake Streets that were finished in 2016.

(Right) Riverwalk in front of Tiny Tapp, from across Chicago River last September.

Riverwalk wins two awards, bringing total to 20

Now 1.25 miles long from Lake Shore Drive to Lake Street, the Chicago Riverwalk recently picked up two new awards, bringing its total number of major awards to 20. Along with the Chinatown branch of Chicago Public Library, the Riverwalk received the Institute Honor Award from American Institute of Architects.

Last November, the Riverwalk was among 13 winners of a Global Award for Excellence from Urban Land Institute. Winners included projects in Canada, Japan, Singapore, Spain, and United States.