Sodexo Kiosk at Luna Park Coney Island. May 31, 2010. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr
If you had Fresh Fruit Fresca, Dippin’ Dots, Coke or any other food or beverage at Luna Park Coney Island this summer, you were experiencing the “Quality of Daily Life Solutions” of Sodexo, one of the world’s largest food and facilities management companies. Zamperla’s new Luna Park was one of Sodexo’s “wins” in 2010, though the partnership is certainly news to the public since it wasn’t mentioned at any of the NYCEDC/Luna Park press conferences.
In addition to managing the kiosks in Luna Park, Sodexo’s involvement extends to planning and running the restaurant currently under construction at Surf and 10th Street in the Gregory & Paul’s location which closed two years ago. Luna Park CEO Valerio Ferrari told ATZ that $1.4 million is being invested in the new sit-down restaurant. It will be open year-round and feature waiter service and a variety of food. As for the Boardwalk, Sodexo-run restaurants are set to take over “some but not all” of the Boardwalk locations, Ferrari says, including Paul’s Daughter and Pio Pio Riko, which flank the Boardwalk entrance to Luna Park.
In May, a Sodexo manager posted news of the win on the company’s Facebook career page: “Sodexo is excited to announce the newest addition to our Leisure account portfolio is none other than Coney Island. We look forward to a wonderful partnership!” Luna Park Coney Island is also listed in Sodexo’s third quarter press release. It is Sodexo Operations LLC’s name on the liquor license at 1000 Surf Avenue. And if you look up Dippin’ Dots retail locations for 11224 on their website, you’ll find the listing Sodexo Inc – Luna Park @ Coney Island.
Sodexo Careers Page on Facebook: "Sodexo is excited to announce the newest addition to our Leisure account portofolio is none other than Coney Island. We look forward to a wonderful partnership!"
Though Sodexo’s partnership with Luna Park may be news to New Yorkers, the company’s presence was known within Coney Island. The Sodexo rep setting up the food service for Luna was a gregarious fellow who introduced himself to people working in neighboring businesses. It wasn’t till mid-summer, when some Boardwalk business owners who’d never heard of Sodexo received a visit from the rep asking details about their business and leaving his card, that some began to ask who is Sodexo?
Founded in France in 1966 by Pierre Bellon with a single dining room, the company now has more than 350,000 employees on 30,600 sites in 80 countries. According to the company’s official bio: “In North America, Sodexo Inc has 7.7 billion (USD) in annual revenue and 120,000 employees and Sodexo serves more than ten million customers daily in corporations, health care, long term and retirement centers, schools, college campuses, government, and remote sites.” Sodexo is an acronym that comes from a French phrase, Societe d’Exploitation Hoteliete, which means a company of service and hospitality. In 2009, “Food and Facilities Management Services” became “On-site Service Solutions.”
Sodexo Kiosk at Luna Park Coney Island. May 31, 2010. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr
According to the Leisure and Entertainment page of the company website….
Sodexo is a global leader in providing guest and facilities services to museums, zoos, aquariums, historic properties, sports venues, and more.
While you focus on your core business and mission, we create and offer a wide array of services specific to your venue that enhance your guests’ experience. A few examples of our services:
Guest Services, Restaurants & Dining
Catering & Special Events
Gift Shops & Retail
VendingFacilities Services, Planning & Assessment
Operations & Maintenance
Landscaping & Grounds
Housekeeping & Custodial
Construction Services
Unarmed Security
Sodexo Kiosk at Luna Park Coney Island. May 31, 2010. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr
Wherever people come together, Sodexo matches the menu to the venue and creates a truly unique dining experience for your guests. We feature fresh, seasonal cuisine presented in a style appropriate to your venue and to creating a truly memorable dining experience. Our customized services will maximize participation and guest satisfaction.
From fine dining at our museums, aquariums, and historic properties to elegant tea rooms in botanic gardens to family meals or high volume concessions at your zoo or arena, we have the perfect solution.
Halloween Treats at Luna Park Coney Island. October 15, 2010. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr
After the Boardwalk businesses received the November 1st notice to “vacate the premises” from Luna Park/CAI, Cha Cha’s told the blog Grub Street that “a French company that was handling Central Amusement’s food and beverage program asked him to submit a business plan and he did so, promising to spend half a million dollars turning his dive into ‘the lost city of Atlantis, with live music and entertainment and food.’ ” Another Boardwalk owner told us he was promised a multi-year lease by the Sodexo rep and was asked to sell some of their products. The business owners, now known as “The Coney Island 8,” are going to court to try and hold onto their longtime spots on the Boardwalk. A plan has also been floated to relocate the evicted businesses to the north side of Surf Avenue.
UPDATE March 31, 2013:
Surf’s Up for CAI Foods in Coney Island, Sodexo Is Out. Sodexo’s departure had long been rumored and is something to cheer about. According to the partnership agreement, after 3 years either party was free to terminate the lease, with CAI having to reimburse the remaining value of Sodexo’s initial investment, with interest.
Related posts on ATZ…
March 31, 2013: Surf’s Up for CAI Foods in Coney Island, Sodexo Is Out
December 2, 2010: Under Construction: Luna Park Coney Island’s $1.4M Sodexo-Run Restaurant & More
November 10, 2010: This Week in Coney Island: Party at Paul’s Daughter, Hypocrisy at NYCEDC
November 1, 2010: Out With the Old in Coney Island: Only 2 of 11 Boardwalk Businesses Invited Back
Amusing the Zillion 
Thank you for uncovering this. It is very telling about the direction that the Zamperla’ Corporation has in mind for the character/identity of Coney Island going into the future. I feel that Zamperla Inc. is now appearing like a Trojan Horse.
Sodexo was sub-contracted to handle all food & beverage services at the Fortune 50 corporation that I used to work for. In a nutshell, it is sterile, soul-less, generic food and beverage service. It is very easy to manage and structured in a way to squeeze out as much profit as possible at the expense of any warmth or charm – the polar opposite of one-of-a-kind mom & pop owned business. Having this presence on the Boardwalk would make this precious swatch of land “anywhere USA” as opposed to the legendary Coney Island known for generations. Economically, I can’t imagine this would be a draw to anyone. Up until now, visitors to NYC from Europe, Asia etc. would make a special trip to Coney Island to experience the “flavor” found nowhere else.
The Boardwalk is one of the last bastion’s of a small, diverse, affordable, locally family-owned, true-to-tradition collective of businesses that reflects Coney’s essence. A multi-national corporate “leisure account portfolio” is blasphemous.
Their offerings look about as appealing as hospital/prison food – I’d have to be incarcerated to eat any of it. Sorry, but Paul’s Daughter’s beautiful handpainted building, hand-cut fries & warm personal service win hands-down over this soul-sucking attempt at creating “a unique dining experience.”
…Why does “Sodexo” conjure up images of Hal9000?
Brunella, there’s a good reason for the food being as appealing as hospital/prison food. Sodexo runs the kitchens for all the city-owned hospitals in NYC. They’re also part of the Marriott corporation.
Sodexo food can be prepared tastefully. It’s mostly up to the management to keep the food workers motivated.
The heritage and buildings should be preserved in Coney Island. This is something that should be passed down to the future generations without ourselves “being hurt”! Adding these other types of institutions would give a lack luster vibe to the community reducing its history to a meaningless place in time and space. Coney Island was and always should be a place for everyone including families to look forward to for enjoyment and safe acitivities.
Long last Coney Island! I remember it as a kid and so do my children!