Madison Heights Officials Reject Gas Station Proposal During Contentious Meeting

The Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce’s advocacy efforts paid off on May 14 when Madison Heights City Council rejected a request to open a Sheetz location in the city. Sheetz is an Altoona, Pennsylvania-based company that specializes in large-footprint gas station/convenience stores.

Opposition to their opening came from residents who object to the 24-hour operation as well as business owners who feel the large chain would adversely affect their businesses. The CACC’s Sharkey Haddad participated in a letter writing campaign and helped organize protestors who attended the Madison Heights City Council meeting.

Sheetz proposals had recently faced opposition or been rejected in Fraser, Rochester Hills, and Waterford. Attendees at the Madison Heights meeting held up red placards that said, “Stop Sheetz.”

Community energy ran high, and applause rang out after several speeches against the proposal, one of which was made by Sharkey Haddad.

Sharkey said, ““The Chaldean Chamber of Commerce has its eyes on the prize, we focus on supporting small businesses who are the backbone of every city, every state and nationally.”

– Detroit Free Press