A town hall hosted by Milwaukee’s common council featured Riverwest residents sharing their concerns about a proposed new business, Metro Pantry and Food, which will take the place of the old Dollar General on Locust St.
On a chilly November night, nearly 40 residents of Milwaukee’s East Side, mainly Riverwest, gathered to voice their thoughts on the new business. Recurring threads were discussions on the hours of operation, security concerns, and the sale of tobacco and vape products.
Alex Brower, the recently elected alderman of Milwaukee’s 3rd district, hosted the meeting inside the Gordon Park pavilion, an echoey building just down the road from the property on Locust.
Owner and Business
The proprietor of the proposed business, Alaa Abdewaser, presented his business plan at the meeting. Though Abdewaser is from just outside Cleveland, Ohio, he owns and operates multiple businesses on Milwaukee’s East Side and has been here for 10 years…