SANFORD — Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport Manager M. Allison Rogers said she is optimistic that the vacant city-owned restaurant space now up for lease will draw submissions for proposals.

Just days after she posted the request for proposals online on Jan. 2, Rogers said there has been significant interest.

“Several have come to see the restaurant, some multiple times,” Rogers said. “You never know until the day and time when submittals are due, but I am cautiously optimistic with the level of interest so far.”

The 1,400-square-foot restaurant space became vacant Jan. 1, after the city chose not to renew the lease formerly held by Rene Bernier, who owned and operated the Cockpit Cafe. After several negotiations over the course of the last year, and some unexpected sporadic closures of the popular breakfast and lunch spot in the last quarter of the year, the city decided to seek proposals for the restaurant space.

According to the request for proposals., the airport offers several possible revenue streams for the restaurant, including walk-in traffic from local and itinerant pilots, residents, employees at industries located on and near the airport, visitors and tourists, and patrons of nearby shopping venues like Walmart and Lowe’s. The city noted that plane catering could augment foot traffic, and that there would be an opportunity for after-hours vending.

The airport has supported an average of 42,000 take offs and landings on its two runways for the last three years, according to the proposal documents..

The introduction to the proposal package noted that during 2019, an estimated 100-150 people will be at or around the airport daily for a construction period of about one year  beginning in the spring, working on installation of a large solar array along with other projects.

The city in June had new flooring installed in the restaurant dining room, acoustical panels, a new window in the kitchen prep area, new LED light fixtures throughout, heating and cooling systems, repair to damaged ceilings and walls, and an air supply system for the commercial kitchen hood.

A draft lease outlines costs for the restaurant building and separate storage area at $1,257 a month. An alternate rental option lowers the square footage rate of the restaurant, resulting in a cost of $714 per month plus two percent of the adjusted gross revenues at a certain juncture and then dropping to one percent.

The documents show that the proposal must include how an operator will provide a minimum of 45 hours a week of table service, be open at least six days a week including Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and accept credit cards as well as cash. The documents outline that the city will consider a proposal that includes beer and wine service, but that is it not a requirement.

Submissions are due by 8:30 a.m. Feb. 7. The RFQ is available online at www.sanfordmaine.org, under the Airport tab.

City officials have said they plan to award the bid in March.

There are no other restaurants in the immediate area, though a convenience store near the airport offers an array of take-out food and a pizza shop is located about  half a mile away.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 780-9016 or twells@journaltribune.com.