A seemingly ordinary strip mall in northeast Calgary has become a hub for social disorder, prompting concerns from local residents and businesses.
The Savanna Bazaar, located about three kilometres east of the Calgary airport, has been the home of disruptive behaviour for more than a year.
Area residents say it is particularly unruly on weekends and holidays.
Police say owners of muscle cars – mostly but not exclusively young men – are performing stunts, revving their engines loudly and engaging in reckless behaviour.
Complaints of open drinking, fireworks and fighting are common.
There have been arrests for assault and impaired driving at the location.
“Unsafe. Everything from stunting, extremely loud vehicles. There’s assaults, there’s harassing behaviour, there’s driving impaired, there’s a variety of different criminal offences that have occurred,” said Staff Sgt. Travis Juska of the Calgary Police Service.
The situation has deteriorated to the point where a community safety officer is now dedicated to managing complaints from the …