It's Sweet Tings with Gassan downtown

Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

It is believed that the late oil magnate, J. Paul Getty, once said, "If you sell to the classes, you will live with the masses. But if you sell to the masses, you will live with the classes." That observation still holds true today across the globe!

The problem, however, is that some of our would-be entrepreneurs and business leaders have failed to grasp that concept. As a result, from time to time, we see would-be entrepreneurs entering the fray with seemingly attractive propositions that could be the next-best idea post sliced bread but, in truth, is not based on the very premise of an exclusive enterprise.

The rich are notorious worldwide as being skinflints, the uber rich, even more so. So it is a fool who, in a market as limited as Jamaica, sets up a business catering to the needs, whims and/or fancies of the rich. This is destined to fail, not because it's a bad business idea, but because the rich have a sense of entitlement that most others don't understand.

Anyway, smart business people, over the years, have basically followed the J. Paul Getty business philosophy, selling to the masses.

In recent years, due to a potent mixture of malaise, crime, self-imposed fear and a corresponding lack of vision, once-successful businesses have been shuttering their downtown businesses for new and more-glamorous uptown visages. Sadly, this has led to the impoverishment of the downtown neighbourhood, the downtown citizenry and, of course, those fleeing to the greener uptown pastures.

The savvy stayed put

Interestingly, while the less savvy took kit and caboodle uptown, the more savvy stayed put, opting to stay where the natural market is, rather than opting for relocation and hope, that in so doing, the market would follow these would-be market leaders.

Well, the business graveyard is replete with corpses of such businesses, while those which stayed downtown, and might have even opted to expand uptown, are still in business, much to the chagrin of their former colleagues.

The name Azan is one that is synonymous with the mercantile overclass here in Jamaica. From Kingston to Port Antonio, to Negril, and along the many towns and villages between the nation's capital and outlying parishes, the name Azan is a familiar one to Jamaicans of all walks of life.

In more recent times, however, while the Azans have remained the dominant name in the mercantile classes, one name has emerged as the pre-eminent powerplayer, that is Gassan.

My dears, it's now very fashionable for businesses to be heading downtown but, just over two decades or so ago, Gassan Azan Jr, changed the shopping landscape when he established the first of his Bashco shopping outlets at 28 Orange Street in downtown Kingston. He would go on to establish two others, in other locations, but within proximity of each other, causing others to question his marketing savvy, while he laughed all the way to the bank.

Well, today, the Gassan Azan Jr shopping and retail enterprise has evolved into a mega, (no pun intended), shopping empire, his Waterloo Road, MegaMart, mega-store, offering from a pin to an anchor and everything in between, is indeed a shopper's dream.

While this mega store is regarded as his flagship, it was from his Orange Street base that he took the Bashco shopping concept to the people by establishing more outlets in Savana-la-Mar, Montego Bay, Mandeville, Ocho Rios, May Pen and Linstead, before first introducing MegaMart Portmore in 1999, followed by MegaMart Waterloo Road, in 2003 and MegaMart Montego Bay, in 2007.

The heart of the Gassan Azan Jr's, growing empire has been and remains his Orange Street downtown, Kingston, Bashco, headquarters and, Wednesday evening, my dears, yet another of its towering pillars was established with the official opening and dedication of Sweet Tings Bakery, a fabulously inviting bakery and pastry shop. It is both an architectural beauty and an oasis of confectionery pleasure located at the corners of Beckford and Princess Streets - literally the new cross roads of downtown commerce.

High-profile opening

Dears, the event was a high-profile opening, with Prime Minister Bruce Golding being special guest speaker and also officially cutting the ribbon to declare the bakery open. It attracted a number of leading high-profile businessmen and entrepreneurs. Keeping it real, the event was chaired by the famed comedic duo, Ity and Fancy Cat. Beenie Man made a guest appearance, much to the delight of the jam-packed square. DJ Izzy keept the vibes flowing so it was a mega street party!

Among those out sharing in the spirit of the occasion were: Proud parents of the entrepreneur Gazan Azan Sr and wife Dawn; his wife, the elegant Rosanna Azan; their daughters, Maya, Tyla and Laina and her parents, Amine and Leonie Jureidini.

Also out were: Kingston's Mayor, Desmond McKenzie; Industry Minister Karl Samuda; Information Minister Daryl Vaz, and his fabulous wife Ann-Marie, and their lovely daughter, Victoria; Opposition Senator Mark Golding; The Honourable Oliver Clarke; hotel magnate and publisher Gordon 'Butch' Stewart; Architect Jeremy Millingen and his lovely wife, Lisa Millingen; Paco Kennedy; Beverly Lopez; Sameer Younis; Omar Azan; Chris Zacca; Town Clerk Errol Green; Saleem Lazarus; Norma Brown-Bell; Christopher Sun and his wife, the very charming Pamela Delisser.

We spotted: Mary-Ann Parrish, Pat Reid, Monica Campbell, Garnett Reid and The Right Reverend E. Don Taylor, who invoked celestial intervention.

It was to be a night of surprises, as Information Minister Daryl Vaz, was celebrating his birthday, on Wednesday, the 15th, and with his wife by his side to mark the occasion, the staff of Sweet Tings Bakery presented a birthday cake, and those gathered joined in with singing and wishing the minister a happy birthday, just before guests were invited to tour the imposing building and facilities!

And, yes, downtown Kingston is a gold mine, just waiting to be rediscovered!