Urban store built on determination
Contact Staff
It’s a question of pride for the man known as Gidean Fyah as he surveys his store, Swag City, well stocked and beautifully laid-out on the lower floor of the Cote des Neiges Mall.
The place is jammed-pack with the latest in urban gear and contemporary wear for men and women, everything from winter jackets, jeans and footwear, together with a nice selection of shirts, pants and dresses.
Looking at it all Gidean says, almost to himself, “I just want our community, especially the youth, to know what we can build if we put our mind to it and are willing to work hard.”
Going on 12 years in business, Gidean started by plying his trade on the streets of Montreal: person-by-person, event-to-event, selling clothes from his Jah=One line.
Eventually, he found a way to secure space on Victoria Avenue, where he remained for several years before he moved to his current location in the mall in mid-2012.
Today, although Gidean says he still has a lot to do to expand the store, Swag City still stands as one of the biggest black-owned enterprises of its kind in Montreal.
“I realized that we don’t have a lot in our community, so it’s important for me to make Swag City a place where young people can be proud when they step through the door,” he says. “I see it in the faces of many children, when they come here with their parents and realize that it’s owned by a Black person.”
That’s why he says he’s compelled to make Swag City into a place where he can offer the fashionable set in our community quality gear and a good shopping experience for their dollars.
I ask for your support not because we’re in the same community, but because people must know that I’m prepared to ensure that they leave Swag City satisfied.
Find Gidean at Swag City at 6700 Plaza Cote des Neiges Store, Unit #149, Montreal, Quebec. Also find him on Facebook at Swag City#149 or call 514 (514) 735-5782 http://www.jahone.com/
