“Red tape” woes delayed new grocery store opening

By Greg Murphy and Suzanne Coolen

BELLEVILLE – Barb Phillips just opened her new grocery store on Front Street. It’s called Mini G Grocers.

This local business woman opened her store because she saw an opportunity to provide the downtown community with what she called a vital service to residents. Prior to Mini G Grocers, residents relied on Giant Tiger to buy their groceries — that is until it left the core last September. She said the departure of Giant Tiger left seniors and young families living in the core with the often difficult task of venturing far just to get groceries.

The QNet team spoke with Phillips as part of our ongoing summer Municipal Election Project to find out what issues matter most to her.

“Red tape” frustrations that delayed the opening of her store for three weeks made up the bulk of the issues she cares about.

She is also worried that parking spaces will be eliminated along the main strip because of the new downtown renovations that have been proposed. Parking for delivery vans is already a challenge she said.

Phillips said she would like the next council to continue efforts stimulating the growth of downtown, and also to smooth over communications between the city’s building department and store owners.

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