The Town of LaSalle is looking at contracting out its indoor concession stand operation at the Vollmer Centre.
Director of Culture and Recreation Julie Columbus says the town will issue a request for proposal (RFP) to gauge options and interest from potential operators.
She says the past three years the concession has been running at a deficit.
In a report presented to council, it broke down total revenues and total operating expenses including wages and showed the stand has lost just under $61,000 in three years.
Columbus says she's concerned.
"I think for any department head that's looking at their budget if we're operating at a deficit, it should be concerning," says Columbus. "It's our responsibility to be cost neutral especially in recreation where we just try and generate a little revenue. So at this point it is concerning to me as it is to the operations in general of hospitality services."
Photo courtesy of Town of LaSalle's council agenda, December 11, 2018
She adds the town is looking for an operator to potentially take over in the spring.
"We don't want to impact the current hockey season," says Columbus. "We have Vipers, we have LMHA, we have Skate LaSalle so we're hoping at the end of their season, we'd be able to negotiate with whoever is the successful bid and then start their new service hoping for April."
The stand is currently open seven days a week but hours vary depending on day and time of events.
The last time the stand made money was back in 2014 where it only generated $1,700.
Locally, Essex, Kingsville, Leamington and Windsor contract out their concession stands while Lakeshore, Amherstburg and Tecumseh run their own with part time staff.