A Queensland vendor has been told to shut up shop by the local council, as the overwhelming local community support brings traffic in the surrounding area to a halt.
Jesse McDonald who sells dagwood dogs and fairy floss across the state at different shows throughout the year has opened up shop in his cousin’s driveway in hopes of saving his family’s small business.
COVID-19 has put a hold on countless events this year, the most recent being the Royal Queensland Show, Ekka. As Queensland’s largest event of the year, this year’s cancellation has seen many vendors lose their biggest and most lucrative contract of the year.
Like many other small business owners across the country feeling the flow-on effects of a pandemic, McDonald took a chance and began operating from the driveway of a residential property in Doolandella. The vendor who usually operates at roughly 35 different shows across the state throughout the year, is feeling the pinch after not being able to operate for several months.
The stall has provided the community with a glimpse of joy in a time of uncertainty with people traveling across the state to grab one of their dagwood dogs. The McDonald family is overwhelmed with the support and is said to be selling over 100 dogs a day.
However with concerns over the placement of the roadside stall for public safety the Brisbane City Council as well as the State Government has ordered the stall to shut if a compromise in location cannot be met.
Mr McDonald has been trading at the Doolandella property for just over a month, with Brisbane City Council making contact with issue trading on the regional property. The vendor then applied for a permit to trade off the property, which was declined by the State Government due to concerns with traffic management and parking placement.
Councillor Kim Marx, who chairs the City Standards board of the Community Health and Safety Committee has said there had been a number of complaints regarding public safety and traffic congestion concerns along the road where the stall is currently vending. Once these complaints had been made, the Council had to get involved, she said.
Mr McDonald has been able to re-employ 4 of his staff members by reopening his stall and has been able to reconnect with the local providers who supply him with his products. It is during this time where small businesses look to rework their usual operations to make sure they are still around once restrictions are eased and local events are back up and running.
Time will tell whether The Dagwood Dog Guy will be back trading at Ekka in August 2021.
