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Request for Information

J. Wayne Reitz Union - Retail Vacancies

SCOPE: The J. Wayne Reitz Union (JWRU) at the University of Florida requests information from businesses specializing in non-food retail sales and/or services to the college/university market. The JWRU has two retail vacancies available for lease: one @ 1,050 square feet (suite G24-G27) and one @ 810 square feet (suite G12-G14). These spaces are located in a prominent high-traffic location on the Ground Floor of the JWRU. The JWRU seeks to enter into an agreement for the lease of each space for a longterm lease (three to seven years) with a possible option to renew after the first term.

The JWRU serves as the community center of the University of Florida campus, providing facilities, services, and programs to meet the needs of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Peak pedestrian traffic is approximately 10,000 to 20,000 people per day. As a multipurpose facility, the JWRU includes: 40,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space consisting of 2 ballrooms, 2 auditoriums, 26 meeting rooms; the 36-room Reitz Union Hotel; office space for student organizations, Student Government, and JWRU administration and staff; an art gallery; a game room; an arts and crafts center; the University Box Office; student lounge areas; and 10 food service operations including: Wendy’s, Subway, Taco Bell, Starbuck’s Coffee, Freshen’s Yogurt; Home Zone, Noodle & Sushi Bar, Capeesh, the Orange & Brew, and the Arredondo Room. Operations located within or adjacent to the JWRU include: the UF Bookstore; the UF Welcome Center; the Gator 1 Central ID Card office; and the Career Resource Center. Current retail stores within the JWRU include: Do It Reitz (copying and shipping), Wachovia Bank, STA Travel, the Outfitter (outdoor gear rentals and sales), Kaplan Educational Center, the Reitz Union Hair Co., and Talking Walls (picture framing). Retail options that duplicate any of the services listed above are not of interest.

Vendors and retailers are requested to submit to the Reitz Union a detailed description of a proposed retail store concept for one or both of these retail spaces. Please provide as much detail and documentation as possible. Also provide one original and two copies of your submittal. Once this information is collected, it will be reviewed in order to possibly create a Request for Proposal (RFP) or Invitation to Negotiate (ITN).

The deadline for inquiries shall be June 22, 2008. All questions should be forwarded in writing to Mike Mironack, JWRU Director of Operations, at mikem@union.ufl.edu. The deadline for responses to this Request for Information is Friday, June 27, 2008 at 2:00 PM.