Saugatuck City Council approved an agreement April 13 allowing a local eatery to operate the concession stand at Oval Beach in 2026.
In November, the city issued a request for proposals to operate the stand as a way to relieve the Department of Public Works during the summer months.
The city received two proposals — one from Midtown Tavern Inc. and one from GROW Estate, operating as SaugaTaco. During the meeting April 13, councilmembers voted to accept the proposal from SaugaTaco.
“Their creative approach to using the off-site kitchen at SaugaTaco, (offering) a delivery service and (providing) a reasonable pay structure … makes their proposal stand out,” Public Works Superintendent Scott Herbert wrote in a report to councilmembers.
SaugaTaco will offer beverages; savory snacks like popcorn and cheese and crackers; and sweet treats like ice cream sandwiches and ice pops. Customers can also order from a prepared menu of tacos, quesadillas and salads — and will be given a marker to indicate their place on the beach. Those orders will be brought from the eatery’s downtown location and delivered to guests on the sand.
“Our mission is to provide Oval Beach guests with a seamless and satisfying concession stand experience that fulfills a broad spectrum of food and beverage needs,” the business wrote in an application. “The time is ripe for the concession stand to be reimagined — reflecting the high-quality, distinctive, forward-thinking and premium experiences that now define our community.”
As part of the agreement, SaugaTaco will make a $10,000 minimum payment to Saugatuck for lease of the space. The business will also make revenue-based payments throughout the summer, with a reconciliation at the end of the season, if needed.
The business can operate on weekends from late May through early September, along with one weekday during non-peak season and three weekdays during peak season, defined as late June to mid-August. The stand’s minimum hours will be 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
SaugaTaco is allowed to operate before Memorial Day and after Labor Day, based on weather and at the business’ discretion. Learn more at saugataco.com.
— Contact reporter Austin Metz at ametz@hollandsentinel.com.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Waterside food delivery at Oval Beach? Here’s the plan from SaugaTaco
Reporting by Austin Metz, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
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