Council approves permit in split vote
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on January 18, 2017 10:14 AM
The Goldsboro City Council was divided in its decision but voted to allow Brookside Mart to remain open in a low-income area of the city.
The council spoke about their concerns and support during a work session and its regular meeting Monday, which drew nearly a dozen supporters of the store and its owner.
Mayor Chuck Allen, Councilman Bill Broadaway, Councilman Mark Stevens, Councilman David Ham and Councilman Gene Aycock voted in favor of a conditional-use permit that allows Brookside Mart to move from its 2000 S. Slocumb St. location to a larger building at 1717 S. Slocumb St.
Mayor Pro Tem Bevan Foster and Councilman Antonio Williams voted in opposition, both citing concerns about the overall operation of the store and what they said is a lack of quality food products.
Foster, who grew up on South Slocumb Street, said he remembers when the residential area had a grocery store with fresh fruits, vegetables and other items.
"At the time he's been at Brookside, he's had none of those things," Foster said. "A food desert is a place where all of those things are required. Then, regardless of whether the store is open, (if) none of those things are being supplied, it's still a food desert.
"I am in total disagreement with him having a store at any level."
Ham, who also spent some of his younger years living in public housing in the area, said he understands the need for a grocery store.
"The residents of South Slocumb Street deserve a grocery facility, not a convenience store that sells cigarettes and beer," Ham said. "Am I opposed to this gentleman running this grocery store? Yes, but they need something on the interim basis."
Ham said city officials will continue to work to try and lure a grocer into the area. He also said the store will be closely monitored and will need to follow tight restrictions, which were approved as conditions with the city permit.
Nine area residents asked the council to allow the store to remain open, while one resident spoke in opposition, during the council's public comment period.
"I stand tonight in strong passionate support of Brookside making the transition to Bob's number two," said Jacqueline Barnes. "We can't invest in the infrastructure of downtown Goldsboro and allow other parts to die."
Kim Simpson said the store owner helps people and has worked to try and keep crime-related problems at bay. Brookside Mart has been a site of repeated police complaints of illegal drug and alcohol sales, shootings, robberies and other problems.
The store is structurally unsafe and was condemned by the city eight months ago, and the owner, Ismail Qandeel, was convicted in May for selling alcohol without a state permit.
"(He) helps the elderly people in the community," Simpson said. "I've seen this man do no negative. I've seen this man running people off in front of his store."
Shirley Smith, a 71-year-old nearby resident, said the owner has helped her during difficult times.
"If I don't have any money, I get it on credit," Smith said. "He's a good man."
Canimo Speight said she remains opposed to the store due to concerns about loitering, trash, noise and other neighborhood problems.
"If we managed without a decent grocery store in the area for over a decade than we can certainly manage without a convenience store, especially one of substandard quality that has broken rules for years . . .," Speight said. "I believe the residents deserve better than what has been allowed."
After hearing from the public, Foster made a motion to deny the conditional-use permit, a move that was supported by Williams. The motion failed in a 5-2 vote.
Ham then made a motion to approve the permit, which passed by a 5-2 vote.
The permit approval comes with a list of conditions, including limited hours from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., no loitering, no litter and property improvements, including a striped parking lot and landscaping.
The conditions include a complaint provision, which allows anyone to file a complaint with city officials. If complaints are made, a public hearing could be held and the store could have its permit modified, suspended or revoked.
Allen told the store owner that he has a month to demolish the existing store.
"If you don't tear it down, we're going to tear it down for you," Allen said.
Allen also warned Qandeel.
"I'm telling you, with all my heart, that if you can go run it and you can be a compliment to this community, you can give them a good service that they need, provide them the good food they need, we will help you any way we can," Allen said.
"If you go over there and continue to do business like you've done business in the past, we're going to shut you down just as fast as we can."
Foster said he did not believe the store would make a turnaround at the new location.
"I'm very disappointed at this point," Foster said. "We've allowed a man that has broken several laws, that has no regard for healthy living (and) now all of a sudden, he's going to change. I honestly can't believe how we can sit back and agree with that."
Williams said the store doesn't have a good track record.
"I feel, honestly, like that (market), from their past history, is not going to bring quality to the community," Williams said. "I hope that it does. I'm disappointed with the outcome today."