On April 24th the new Creole Waggans Store on “E” Street will be opened for business. It is news because as we’ve reported – residents in the upscale residential community were vocally opposed to plans to open the discount store in their neighbourhood. The problem was that the city council had already granted Greg Reyes a building permit – on the strength of which he spent half a million dollars to construct a store. And it’s not just any store, it’s Creole Waggans, a very popular discount outlet known to sell brand names dirt cheap.
And the battle over the business pitted neighbour against neighbour – and tonight we can tell you that the Waggans owner won. Last week the trade licensing board approved a permit for the Creole Waggans to operate on E Street. The store owner Greg Reyes says the first day of business on E Street will be April 24th.
Greg Reyes, Creole Waggans
“Exactly the 24th of April, we will throw open these doors.”
Keith Swift,
So you see this as reason for celebration for these guys?
Greg Reyes,
“No Keith I don’t look at it as celebration because I think from the very onset of this situation it was not handled properly. I think the neighbours maybe should have made an effort to come to me and sit down at the table before it got to the point where it got. That is unfortunate but maybe God had some reason why he wanted that aired out. So that is the way it has happened.”
Keith Swift,
Have you reached a compromise?
Greg Reyes,
“Well I won’t call it compromise but I think their ignorance was cleared up and a lot of things after two or three meetings with the City Council. They realized for one that we didn’t just come here to do a business, we are also living here and I think that in someway provided a big comfort for them because they realized we were going to be living here and it is not just a business location.”
Keith Swift,
So your customers can start coming here on April 24th? Will the other Waggans on Vasquez Avenue still be open?
Greg Reyes,
“Yes the other Waggans will also be open for the same hours, 9 to 6 everyday Monday to Saturday.”
Keith Swift,
And what will be the hours for this location?
Greg Reyes,
“The same hours too from 9 in the morning until 6 in the evening.”
Reyes says the new Waggans on E Street will be more like a boutique.
