Big Star Sandwich Company Ltd. is busier than its owners ever dreamed their new business would be.
Clint Bondzuk and Julie Rule opened the sandwich shop at 705 12th St. in March. Big Star's sandwiches and vintage brands of pop are attracting customers from the local area, Annacis Island, Metrotown and beyond.
"We wanted to be in an underdog area," Bondzuk said about the 12th Street location. "Price was one of the bigger factors."
Like many of the small businesses operating on 12th Street, Big Star will be participating in the 12th Street Music Festival. The street will be closed to traffic between Sixth and 10th avenues for the annual festival that's taking place on Sunday, July 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. "It is starting to look really exciting," said Amber Anderson, president of the West End Business Association. "This is going to be the biggest one we have had so far."
In past years, the 12th Street Music Festival has been held on the B.C. Day long weekend, but it's been changed to accommodate many people who wanted to participate but go away for the long weekend.
"It's incredible, the response I have been getting," Anderson said. "They are still calling."
The festival will feature music on three stages, which will be located near Sixth Avenue, near Dublin Street and at the top of 10th Avenue. Harpdog Brown and the Bloodhounds, Wendy
Biscuit, the Piano Man and Java Jazz are among the performers at this year's event. "We have got so much going on this year, first and foremost, three stages with really good bands," Anderson said. "We have a really good kids zone."
The expanded kids zone will feature popular children's performer Ish da Fish, crafts, balloons, face painting and a petting zoo.
Anderson said the festival is a good chance for 12th Street merchants to show off their retail neighbourhood, which has made strides in recent years. She noted that when she opened her business on 12th Street in 2011, her early shift employee was afraid to leave the door unlocked when she was alone at the café in the morning.
"Sadly, johns and prostitutes had returned to this area, and the graffiti was again giving a negative impression," she said. "I can now say that a new project by a joint New Westminster Police Department/RCMP project has produced
the longest lasting relief from prostitution that I have seen in the 20 years that I have lived in this area."
In addition, people involved with the I's on the Street program pick up garbage twice a week.
"The streets have never been cleaner," Anderson said. "Now it's time to show off our safe, bustling little street as we celebrate the annual 12th Street Music Festival."
Anderson said a number of new businesses have been opening up, and potential businesses are making inquiries about spaces along the commercial corridor.
"People are staring to come around to 12th Street," she said. "It's grown so much. It's affordable. It's mom-and-pop shops that can't afford to be in an expensive location."
