A café that will offer a variety of healthy drinks and dishes including herbal teas, smoothies, protein waffles, salads, and wraps, is hoping to enter into a three-year lease with the city to operate out of the Mary Sue Rich Center in northwest Ocala.
Healthy Hub Ocala, LLC will seek approval for the new cafe from the Ocala City Council during its upcoming meeting on Tuesday, September 17.
The restaurant space at the facility includes a 185-square-foot café and a 442-square-foot commercial kitchen.
In August 2022, the City issued a request for proposal for the operation of a café at the center. A single proposal was received and was subsequently withdrawn.
According to the city, the opportunity was readvertised in September of 2022 and February 2023.
No proposals were received for either re-solicitation.
Throughout 2023, city staff decided to pursue negotiating leases directly with interested vendors. Despite meeting with several interested parties, city staff said there was “little interest” in operating the cafe.
That changed earlier this year, when local business owner Tyla Roa expressed an interest in taking over the space. Roa owns Protein Social, which is located within the Shoppes at Paddock Square. That business serves a variety of plant-based proteins drinks and energy teas.
According to city records, a small café on the main floor was part of the original design of the Mary Sue Rich Center, which opened in nearly two years ago.
Located at 1821 NW 21st Avenue, a small café on the main floor was part of the original design of the recreation center.
The facility features a 390-seat banquet hall, two-full basketball courts, and several other amenities for visitors.
Other than the proposed café, the recreation center’s only on-site vending is a soda machine offering soda, sports beverages, and water.
According to city records, Healthy Hub Ocala, LLC will operate as a quick-service restaurant during most of the recreation center’s regular business hours.
The initial lease term is for three years, with an option for one renewal period of an additional three years.
The terms of the lease say that the business’s menu must include “healthy options for breakfast and lunch.”
According to records, the lease will charge a sliding scale to “allow the tenant to build out their business.”
The first five months of the first year of the lease would call for a rent of $750 per month. Months six through 12 of the first year, the rent would increase to $1,000 per month.
In the second and third years of the lease, the rental rate will increase to $1,250 per month.
The agreement also maintains that the city will provide maintenance or replacement needs for the kitchen equipment and will maintain ownership for three flatscreen TVs mounted in the café area.
“The Tenant shall provide and maintain any start-up items not supplied with the premises or as equipment within the lease agreement,” reads a report from city staff.
In total, the lease will generate approximately $40,750 in revenue over the three-year period.
The Ocala City Council regularly meets on the first and third Tuesday of every month at 5 p.m. at Ocala City Hall (110 SE Watula Avenue).
