Perth Voice Interactive

AN aspiring franchise owner stormed out of Vincent’s council meeting this week, furious with the rejection of his plans to open a Guzman y Gomez food store in the heart of Leederville.

The council’s 5/4 vote to knock it back blindsided both the applicant and staff who’d recommended approval.

“Disgraceful!” the man exclaimed. “You could have told us that three months ago before we spent $50,000!”

Applicants LLT and JK Miller wanted to open the Mexican chain store on the Oxford Street strip. It would have joined two GyGs in James and Beaufort Streets, and more than 40 others across Australia.

Mayor John Carey told the angry applicant it was the council’s democratic right to make a decision it believed to be right.

During debate he’d said he was “deeply concerned by the number of franchises coming into our main streets”, noting the rise of popular burger chain Grill’d.

He’d voted to approve the Guzman y Gomez application because it met planning rules, but expressed concern franchises were snuffing out unique suburban identities.

“This kills the main street vibrancy, it kills choice,” he said. “What we face is we lose independent stores, independent food, and instead we get a raft of franchises that look the same. Is that what we ultimately want in town centres?”

by DAVID BELL