Ferries’ on-board galley services also to change management from Washington business
— by Margie Doyle —
Margie Aipopo, 12-year owner/licensee of Cheesecake Café at Anacortes Ferry Terminal, soon to depart?
Margie Aipopo, owner of the Cheesecake Café, that has operated for the past 12 years at the Anacortes Ferry Terminal, was hoping to renew her contract this year.
Customer feedback and official inspections had led her to think that Cheesecake Café would be re-awarded the contract, and so she was blindsided when, on March 28 Washington State Ferries (WSF) announced that all food service contracts, including the café, the San Juan Souvenir shop and the on-board ferry food service, currently managed by Olympic Cascade Services, had been awarded to Centerplate Inc. a 30,000 employee corporation headquartered in Connecticut. Centerplate also operates concessions in Safeco Field, Tacoma Dome, New Orleans and San Francisco, Santa Clara (home of the 2016 SuperBowl) and San Diego, among other venues.
Aipopo employs 10 year-round employees and 30 during the summer months. She says, “the 12 years of sales growth [at Cheesecake Café in the terminal] show my eye for details and consent adjustments.” This summer, Aipopo’s two college student daughters are coming home to help their mom deal with whatever final decision is made. They grew up working with her, often being dropped off by their school buses at the café doors.
The selection process awarded Centerplate the contracts for on-board food, beverage and retail concessions:
- On shore food and beverages at Anacortes Ferry Terminal
- News books and Convenience at Anacortes Ferry Terminal
- WSF system-wide vending machines
- WSF system-wide galley services
In its announcement to Aipopo on March 28, WSF said that it had not yet completed its evaluation for the news, books and convenience contract at the Seattle Ferry Terminal. All other contracts were awarded to Centerplate. WSF asked that she vacate the licensed premises in six weeks.
Nove Meyers, owner of Olympic Cascade Services, headquartered in Silverdale, Washington, on the Kitsap Peninsula, has filed an appeal with WSF to reconsider its decision. A spokesperson for Olympic Cascade Services said that the business makes all fresh items in the galley in its Silverdale facility.
In Anacortes last week, Aipopo asked, ‘How did Centerplate convince WSF that they could provide better food services than she has?” When informed of the news in late March, she asked for an official de-briefing explaining the award system. She was told that a response would be forthcoming in seven days; in mid-April she was told she would have an answer, “by the end of the month.”
In the meantime, Aipopo has researched Centerplate’s practices, including lawsuits over employee wages and breaks in several states. Aipopo asks that those who hope to reverse the decision call, write and contact Ferry officials and local government officials:
- Jim Corenman, San Juan Islands Ferry Advisory Committee Chair: fac@sanjuanco.com
- San Juan County Council council@sanjuanco.com
- Jim English, Anacortes Ferry Advisory Committee Chair: Jim_English@frontier.com
- Skagit County Council — Ron Wesen, District 1 (Anacortes) Representative, (360) 416-1300
commissioners@co.skagit.wa.us - Tim McGuigan, Director of Contracts and Legal Services, 206-515-3601 MCGUIGAN@wsdot.wa.gov
- Roger Millar State Secretary of Transportation 360-705-7054: MILLARR@wsdot.wa.gov
- Lynn Griffith, Assistant Secretary for Washington State Ferries, 206-515-3601 GRIFFIL@wsdot.wa.gov
- Kristina Arsenault, 206 264-3551 ARSENAK@wsdot.wa.gov
In 2012, Centerplate was acquired by a consortium of investors including members of the current management team and private equity firm Olympus Partners. Its services operate in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom.
Sounds pretty fishy to me and doesn’t pass the smell test. I think we should always be trying to keep local jobs under local management, wherever and whenever possible. That keeps the dollars circulating in the local economy. Please keep us informed about this, Margie.
And once again the Big Out-of-State Corporations comes in and steps all over the little guy. Not feeling the friendliness or respect for someone who has taken a mediocre at best business and twelve years of their lives and turned it into something that worked. There’s just something about Corporations…
Sounds a bit like when big COKE got the contract; it came in to our college campus and demanded that it (and all their other Coke labels) had to be “the” soft drink” in every soda machine, vending machine, catering services, etc. You could not find a Pepsi (even if you wanted to) to save your life. Afraid that Centerplate probably negotiated something similar. with WSF. Ugh.
What a poor choice they have made.
Thanks for providing the names/emails of people to write to.
I did.
I supposed we can look forward to the type of food services offered at Safeco field; limited selection, mediocre quality at best, and seriously overpriced. Thank goodness that we on Orcas have the Russells for our red eye breakfast option.
Interesting to note that we will not allow the ferries to be BUILT outside the state, but we’re willing to contract with a giant Connecticut corporation for food service? There’s absolutely NO reason that shoreside facilities need to be under contract to the ferry provider.
Thanks for shining a light on yet another dark corner of our world, Margie. It’s a great service, underappreciated, but not unnoticed.
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Thank You Margie for telling my story and for all the letters, phone calls and support. It has touch my heart. But I have not stopped fighting yet so keep righting letter and asking WSF why they would choose a out of state Corporation with bad employment practices over a locally owned small business.