CHELSEA — The Hudson River Park Trust is looking for an experienced restaurateur to run a massive new beer garden at Chelsea's Pier 62.
The 6,000 square foot space, overlooking the river at West 22nd Street, is envisioned as a "European-style beer garden that emphasizes both quality craft beers and specialty food," according to a request for proposals put out by the Trust on Monday.
The pier is already home to a carousel and a skateboard park.
The winning applicant will need to come up with both a business plan and a design for the pier, and will be expected to be open for business by June 15, allowing for nearly an entire summer of outdoor drinking.
The beer garden would likely close when the park does, at 1 a.m.
Food is a must for the new space — the trust envisions grub being served from a stationary food truck or even a converted shipping container. The initial contract for the garden is three years, with two one-year extensions.
"The Pier, complete with Ipe wood decking and landscaped planters, is a unique opportunity for companies seeking to establish the ultimate destination oasis for serving craft beers and specialty bites on the water," the Trust wrote on its Facebook page.
The pier sees significant foot traffic in the summer months — the popular yet cash-strapped park has about 6 million visitors a year.
The park — which faces a projected $80 million deficit over the next decade — would get a cut of the beer garden's profits.
Applications for the beer garden are due on April 1.
