Qualified food service operators are encouraged to respond to a Request for Proposals (RFP), issued by the Buffalo Urban Development Corporation (BUDC), per their current search for a new café/restaurant tenant at Northland Central.
The complex is home to the Northland Workforce Training Center (NWTC), which operates as a hub for training in energy, advanced manufacturing, and automotive industries. The new automotive technician program launched earlier this year.
Northland Central‘s restaurant amenities include a fully equipped, 3,647-square-foot restaurant space on the ground floor of the Northland Central building, with an indoor dining area, lunch counter, and an outdoor patio.
This space presents a prime location for a food service operator, offering food accessibility and potential partnerships for training programs, food production, or minority/women-owned business incubation.
“The Northland Central site represents the best of Buffalo’s resurgence—where education, workforce development, and community investment meet,” said Mayor Christopher P. Scanlon, Chairman of the Buffalo Urban Development Corporation. “This is an opportunity for a food service operator to become part of a thriving ecosystem on Buffalo’s East Side—one that not only feeds our students, workers, and neighbors, but also fuels small business growth, local hiring, and long-term opportunity in our community.”
The turnkey restaurant, located along the Northland Beltline Corridor, is open to the public, and is home to:
- 350-400 NWTC students
- 50 NWTC staff members
- Buffalo Manufacturing Works
- Retech Systems
- Rookery Labs
- The Rodriguez Construction Group
The selected food service operator will be responsible for:
- Daily operations, including food supply, sanitation, and maintenance; hiring and training staff, with a focus on local and minority workforce participation (25% minority, 5% women).
- Offering diverse, high-quality food options, including casual dining, counter service, and grab-and- go meals.
- Providing catering services for events and programs at NWTC
- Serving the surrounding community, which lacks sufficient food service options.
- 455 workers employed at businesses around Northland Beltline Campus.
- 2,337 local area residents seeking dining options.
“We are looking for an innovative and community-minded food service operator to provide healthy, high quality food options and top tier customer service to visitors, students, staff and residents within the Northland Beltline Corridor,” said BUDC President Brandye Merriweather.
Preference will be given to operators with experience serving Buffalo’s East Side, particularly the African American community.
“This is more than just a food service operation—it’s an opportunity to support workforce development, small business growth, and the revitalization of Buffalo’s East Side,” said Rebecca Gandour BUDC Executive Vice President.
Northland Central is located at 683 Northland Avenue, Buffalo, NY.
The RFP can be found on BUDC’s website www.buffalourbandevelopment.com and copies are available at BUDC’s offices located at 95 Perry Street, Suite 404, Buffalo, N.Y. 14203. BUDC will also host a tour and information session for interested food service operators on Thursday, April 10, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at Northland Central, 683 Northland Avenue, Buffalo New York. Interested Operators are encouraged to attend.
Any questions regarding this RFP should be made in writing to Angelo Rhodes II at [email protected] no later than April 28, 2025 at 4:00pm. The deadline for proposals is Monday, May 12, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.
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