Findlay Market Releases Request for Proposal for Market House Stalls 109 & 111

For Immediate Release 

Sami Stewart
Marketing & Communication Manager
sstewart@findlaymarket.org
513-544-0242
 

Cincinnati (August 14, 2025) - Findlay Market is accepting proposals for Market House stalls 109 & 111
following the announcement of the retirement of Ken Sillies, owner of Grayson’s Meats. Ken has had a
successful career as a business owner at Findlay Market, and we are looking to fill this space with a
business that can carry on Grayson’s legacy of providing affordable groceries to the community. The
deadline to apply is August 24, 2025. Full details can be found below.

Request for Proposal - Stall 109 & 111 - Findlay Market

This Request for Proposal (“RFP”) outlines the request for additional information needed to determine
an appropriate tenant for Stalls 109 & 111 within Findlay Market (the Project) for the Landlord in
advance of proposed tenancy in the Project. This stall is located in the Market House of historic Findlay
Market with 810 total square feet, and has been converted from two separate stalls into one larger
space.

Stall Details

• Electrical Service: 100 amps single phase
• Gas Service: No
• Water Access: Yes, including 3 compartment sink, hand sink, and prep sink
• Timeline: Available immediately

The Corporation for Findlay Market manages this space and has preference for the following:

• Locally owned, year-round business open during Market hours, Tuesday through Sunday.
• A food business with similar product mix and price point as the existing business; frozen/refrigerated grocery product and deli offerings. Other concepts will be reviewed but must be a food concept that is new and unique to the Market District, with minimal menu overlap with existing businesses.

The following items are requested from potential tenants in evaluation. It would be expected these things would be returned by August 24, 2025.

• Business Plan: Basic business plan, including description of business offerings, menu/production list as appropriate, competitors/similar products in the Market area, OTR and Greater Cincinnati.
• Capital Build Out Budget: Expected build out cost for concept, including sources and uses of funding.

• Operational Pro Forma: Detailed expected three-year operating pro forma.
• Organizational Management: Ownership team biographies and experience, along with any key employees that will allow business to operate.
• Marketing Plan and Graphic Details: Sampling of design materials, logos, and other graphical content. Details of expected marketing communication plan.

Existing Business Details: Provide current/recent location of business, years in operation, and annual sales at location.

Proposal Only: This RFP sets forth the principal terms for proposed transaction(s) between the parties; however, nothing contained herein shall be deemed to create any legally binding obligation upon any party, until a mutually acceptable binding license agreement and other required legal agreements have been executed and delivered by the parties. Moreover, where this RFP is silent on issues, such silence indicates that the issues remain to be addressed to the mutual satisfaction of the parties in the final legal documents. The landlord reserves the right to withdraw this RFP or not proceed to Letter of Intent or license agreement, at any time, without notice.

Submittal: Please send completed Proposal to jbird@findlaymarket.org.

Why Start Your Business at Findlay Market?

• Findlay Market sees over 1.4MM visitors each year.
• We are home to the region’s largest farmers market, 60+ full-time merchants, and 50+ part-time vendors.
• We host 40+ community events each year, including tasting events, holiday markets, and more.
• Businesses at Findlay Market get specialized support through the Corporation for Findlay Market’s marketing efforts, unique opportunities for business development, on-call maintenance and facilities assistance, and much more.
• Findlay Market has 200K+ followers across all platforms
• 2024 Media Numbers
  • Findlay Market was featured 2,013 times in radio, TV, and web news stories, generating $713,353.02 of ad value.
  • It’s estimated that 34,949,454 viewers engaged with TV and radio news stories featuring Findlay Market, a 17% increase in viewership from the year prior.