Café Vendor Sought for New Transportation Hub

Sangamon County is seeking proposals from vendors interested in opening and operating a café inside the planned Springfield-Sangamon County Transportation Hub in downtown Springfield.

The county has issued a formal Request for Proposals, with applications due by noon on July 31, 2026. The transportation hub is under construction and is expected to open in 2027.

The county is offering incentives to attract entrepreneurs, including a basic commercial kitchen and potential subsidies for rent and utilities. Applicants must have some food and beverage experience and submit a business plan to operate the café at least Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Two informational sessions are scheduled to explain the hub space, program needs and RFP requirements. Both sessions will be held at Innovate Springfield, located in the Horace Mann building at 1 Horace Mann Plaza, 3rd Floor Classroom, in downtown Springfield. The sessions will also be available virtually and recorded.

The sessions are scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 20, 2026, and noon Thursday, June 25, 2026. Zoom links are available on the Sangamon County website.

“This is an opportunity for convenience and overall experience for travelers and county employees. It gives travelers a quick, reliable option without leaving the building, and provides employees with something consistent during the day,” said Karen Conn, an award-winning Springfield business owner who is on the advisory committee for the new café. “As the HUB hosts events, it also creates a reason for people to stay, gather, and engage with the space, helping it function the way it’s intended.”

The Hub will be located just north of the Sangamon County Building at 200 S. 9th Street. It will include a relocated Amtrak station, along with service for Greyhound and Springfield Mass Transit District buses. The project will also include “County Square,” public performance and exhibit space, and digital screens expected to feature local content.

“Our hope for this space is to help an entrepreneur establish their business at The Hub and then grow to the point where they can move out into the community at another location in Sangamon County, creating room and opportunity for the next entrepreneur to do the same,” said Sangamon County Board Chairman Andy Van Meter.

A community advisory committee will review and score submissions, interview finalists and make a recommendation this fall. Negotiations will then continue with the recommended vendor before final approval by the Sangamon County Board. The café is planned to open in fall 2027.

“This is a real opportunity for a local entrepreneur to grow their business in one of Sangamon County’s most visible new public spaces,” said Dominic Watson, president of The Springfield Project and CEO of the Springfield Black Chamber of Commerce. Watson also serves on the café advisory committee. “The county is offering meaningful incentives that can help reduce barriers, and we want entrepreneurs from across the community to see this as a chance to build, serve, and grow.”

The RFP is available on the county website. Potential applicants may submit questions to SangamonCountyProcurement@kindconsulting.org by June 30, 2026. Questions and responses will be compiled and posted on the county website by July 6, 2026.