New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodríguez is inviting proposals from retail or food service businesses to operate in three different spaces at Fordham Plaza located on Fordham Road and Third Avenue on the Fordham / Belmont border.

 

DOT officials said there are both interior and exterior spaces available for “potential dealers.” They said one of the RFPs is for a larger space that includes the cafe building (yellow pictured building) and a kiosk (Kiosk 2) with outdoor concession space available, and another for a smaller space with a window service kiosk that does not include outdoor concession space.

 

They said Fordham Plaza is the “geographic, economic and cultural heart of The Bronx,” and an important transportation and public space center. It is within walking distance or a short bus ride from numerous local institutions, including Fordham University, the New York Botanical Garden, and the Bronx Zoo; CUNY on the Concourse, Monroe College, Lehman College, Bronx Community College, and Montefiore Medical Center.

 

“The new concessions at Fordham Plaza can help provide greater convenience to Bronxites while commuting, as well as foster a vibrant and welcoming public space for all,” said Rodríguez. “The Fordham Plaza location presents an excellent business opportunity with unparalleled exposure to customers from all walks of life along some of New York’s busiest transportation lines.”

 

DOT officials said local businesses also have a unique opportunity to activate vital community spaces at Fordham Plaza, which they said is the central business district of The Bronx, and the third busiest shopping district in the City. They said interested business owners will have until April 11 to submit proposals to operate at the site.

 

Described as a transit destination also, the plaza is located above the Fordham Metro North station, a 17-minute train ride from Grand Central Terminal, and also serves as a stop, terminal or transfer point for numerous bus lines serving The Bronx.

 

DOT officials said it is also located a short distance from the B and D trains at Grand Concourse and that all of these factors have made Fordham Plaza the central business district of The Bronx.

 

Meanwhile, as reported, the Best Buy store located at the plaza, at Fordham Road and Webster Avenue, is set to shutter on March 1.

 

On Feb. 10, NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) held a hearing on a new agency rule that would require all business improvement districts (BIDs) to containerize public trash. DSNY officials said that for more than 40 years, BIDs have provided supplemental services (including sanitation) to enhance the City’s neighborhoods, and while DSNY shared the same goals of keeping the City’s streets and sidewalks clean, the new rule would essentially require BIDs to assume primary responsibility of sanitation services.

 

DSNY officials said the Belmont BID and Fordham Road BID believe the new rule is unfairly punitive, operationally challenging, remains unfunded, and undermines decades of public-private partnerships. Other BIDs are also opposed to the ruling. More to follow on this. A final decision since the hearing has not yet been announced, according to DSNY.

 

Meanwhile, as reported, back in 2023, concerned members of Bronx Community Board 6 (CB6) sent a letter dated Feb. 20, 2023 to Keith Kalb, then-interim commissioner at the Bronx borough office of NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) on “the current state of Fordham Plaza.” In it, they referred to what they described as DOT’s prior eviction of vendors and businesses which were previously operating in the Plaza, to facilitate reconstruction works at the site which were completed in 2016.

 

As reported, the Bronx Night Market continues to operate at Fordham Plaza on the last Saturday of the month from April to November from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., while various cultural and community events are held there regularly, including the Annual Fordham Road Fair. Apply as a vendor at the Bronx Night Market here. Apply to be a sponsor here.