By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
OWNERS of a kebab store in Cranbourne North have hit back at claims they are in a fast-food feud with the fish and chip shop next door.
Radio talkback and Facebook vitriol reached boiling point this week after reports in the Herald-Sun that Wot A Kebab and George’s Fish and Chips in The Avenue shopping centre were at war over whether the latter should be able to sell souvlakis.
Ryan and Shane Barrington, owners of Wot a Kebab, said they had been portrayed as “bullies” and that there was no dispute between them and the Sleiman brothers from George’s Fish and Chips.
The Barringtons say media coverage of the supposed spat has cost them business.
“There’s no beef, no rivalry between the two shops. It’s one big misunderstanding,” Ryan Barrington told the News.
“There’s nothing going on between us, we’re mates getting on with business.”
Talk of a souvlaki spat fired up when word got out that centre management had approached Alex and Ali Sleiman, owners of George’s Fish and Chips, and requested they no longer sell souvlakis as there was a kebab store next door.
Centre management approved the Sleiman brothers’ menu before they opened their store three weeks ago, of which souvlakis were a major component.
The brothers concur there is no feud between the shops.
“They’ve left us to look like we’re fighting with Wot a Kebab but the real fight is between us and centre management,” Alex Sleiman said.
“We don’t have a problem with each other.
“We eat from the boys (Wot a Kebab) and they boys eat from us. We’re neighbours.”
Ryan, who also had the Wot a Kebab menu approved when it opened three months ago, said there had been no previous problem with his store selling chips.
“Chips were never an issue with anyone,” he said.
“And at no point did I walk into George’s Fish and Chips and tell Alex he cannot sell souvlakis.”
Ryan said he felt centre management had also been misrepresented in the kebab beat-up, with all store owners set to meet with management on Friday.
