Chief defends local business

Marie Dawson

Arnaudville — Backed by the chief of police, the owner of a business at Main and Guidroz defended the establishment’s reputation before the City Council last week.

Jean-Claire Thibodeaux, owner of property containing a grocery store, restaurant and bar, said an adjacent property owner, Aymar Bonin, made comments at the council’s Nov. 20 meeting that were false and damaging.

In a calm and dignified manner, Thibodeaux said there are no drug sales occurring in her parking lot and that she works closely with Chief of Police Mizzi to ensure that is so.

Despite Bonin’s allegations of disruptive behavior, she said he had never contacted her directly to voice these complaints.

“I want the deli to be safe for my mom and dad to get a hamburger,” Thibodeaux said. “I don’t want drugs in my parking lot.”

Chief Mizzi spoke up to attest that Bonin’s comments, which were published in the Teche News, were wrong.

And a former customer who said he has been banned from the business for fighting offered a spirited defense of Thibodeaux’s establishment. James Vige passionately declared that she runs a good business and does deal with problems in a prompt and fair manner and would never allow drug activity on her premises. He said he accepts responsibility for his own behavior.

Mayor Kathy Richard stated that she wanted to bring all parties involved in this controversy to the table to discuss the complaints and work out an equitable solution.

Last month, Bonin an his daughter, Kim Taylor, who lives on Bonin’s property, appeared to complain about activities outside Thibodeaux’s business. Bonin said he had seen money exchange hands between patrons in the parking lot and suspected drug dealing. Taylor said she had witnessed the police department breaking up fights there.