Thursday, March 28, 2024

STREET BEAT: Wildey looks busy but . . .

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As part of the Nation Publishing Company’s 50th anniversary of Independence Celebrations, the WEEKEND NATION is dedicating the Street Beat column to a district in each parish we believe is the Unofficial Capital.

WILDEY, ST MICHAEL, is one of the busiest areas in the parish with constant traffic passing through.

Jams are a normal thing on this road especially in the rush hour.

However, the heavy traffic flow may mask the truth behind Wildey – which has been on the decline for years. The Street Beat team stopped at Palm Plaza for the story.

“People look at the traffic and assume nuff business going on but people more looking to get out from around here than stopping in to do anything.

“From the time the road change to one way, business reduce and some of the stores here shut down and left then new ones come in and them shut down too,” said a representative from Brothers Barber Shop, who requested anonymity.

He said the barber shop depended on its loyal customers to survive, adding they had been open for around a decade.

“Fortunately when people accustomed to a barber they come back without them we would have had to shut down too,” he said.

The three-year J&S Bar and Gaming also depends on repeat customers although bartender Racquel Waithe said she was beginning to notice some new faces as well. She said their busiest nights were karaoke on Thursdays and on weekends.

“Business is fluctuating. I personally don’t like the one way road, but it is what it is,” she said.

A patron, who did not disclose his identity, chipped in saying the road was dangerous for pedestrians as the crossings were worn and the drivers did not tend to stop too readily anyway.

“If they plan to keep the road how it is now they need more pedestrian crossings and the ones there need repainting but people don’t stop for you on them anyhow.

“There are none coming from Clapham Park to the bank and that is a well-used route. It is only a matter of time before somebody get kill,” he said.

Allan Leach cooking up a feast. He said he emphasised good food and service.

allan-leach-wildey

Allan Leach is a Wildey success story, selling grilled food in the large car park near business such as FirstCaribbean Bank, Courtesy Garage and – interestingly enough – Chicken Barn. He too said traffic was a major headache.

Leach said he had been doing his thing for around five years now and business was “not bad”. He said what kept people coming back was his dedication to good taste and good service.

“I make my own sauces and juices and I buy proper stuff to work with. At the end of the day the customers must enjoy their meal and most importantly, come back,” he said.

Long history

As for his proximity to the popular Chicken Barn, he said it actually helped him as when people saw the long lines there; some opted to buy from him rather than use up their lunch hour waiting in line.

Carters General Stores has a long history in Barbados and has become synonymous with Wildey. Store manager Alan Goodman said there was not too much difference in the area now than when he started in 1999 but what had changed was what people were buying.

“There was a building boom going on then – a lot of projects, both big and small, were ongoing – but that died down over the past couple of years. Today we are seeing a lot of quotations from people seeking to renovate so we are hoping that turns into actual plans.

“Also, people don’t have as much disposable income as before so they are being more selective about what they are buying. It is more needs than wants although you still get the occasional wants buyer,” he said.

Goodman said the major change he noticed was the road being made one way, a move he said did not affect the store.

Looking at Wildey today, one could hardly believe it was once a quiet area. However, the Wildey of 40 years ago was a much different one as one woman, who requested anonymity, he said.

“I used to live here when the A1 Supermarket was here and the area was not this developed. They had the supermarket and the doctor’s office then a Chubbies video, which closed down. Even Courtesy here was just a showcase.

“It is good to see it employing a lot more people but I think it needs more advertising, it is a harder sell because of the traffic changes. This is a hub where you can eat and relax, even at night. All it want now is a bar,” she said. (CA)

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