The owner of the gyro stand in Campustown was notified Friday he could continue vending at the stand’s current location on Welch Avenue.

Matthew Goodman, owner of Smiles, Inc., the company that operates the gyro stand, said Diane Voss, city clerk, faxed him a letter from City Manager Steve Schainker stating the stand could continue operation.

The decision came after Goodman reached an agreement with another Campustown business, Kum & Go, 203 Welch Ave.

The agreement allows his customers to use the restroom facilities at Kum & Go should they need to while doing business with the gyro stand.

Goodman said he is pleased with the decision but does not believe the fight is over.

The decision can still be appealed, and Goodman said he believes it will be. If an appeal occurs the issue may be sent to the Ames City Council.

Ahmed Merchant, owner of the Campustown Jimmy John’s, 135 Welch Ave., complained to the city about problems he was having with the gyro stand. He said he does not know whether he will appeal the decision.

“If we appeal it will just be for him to move from the front of our entrance,” Merchant said.

Merchant said smoke from the gyro stand grill was filling his store. Izela Gauna, general manager of the Campustown Jimmy John’s also wrote a letter to the city complaining of problems. Gauna said the gyro customers come into Jimmy John’s to use the restroom and eat gyros.

Merchant said the city was considering revoking the gyro stand’s vending license because the stand did not have a public restroom for its customers to use, not because of complaints he had made. Merchant said it is against city and state code not to provide a restroom for customers.

Schainker could not be reached for comment Sunday about the issue.

Goodman said last week that he believed the reason for the letters was that Merchant did not want to compete.

“It is not like there isn’t a lot of business out there,” Goodman said. “He just wants the corner to himself.”

Merchant said this was not true. “We really want him to be around — we don’t want him to go away,” Merchant said.

He said he simply wants the stand to move to a corner that does not block the Jimmy John’s entrance.

Goodman said the disagreement is between himself and the Jimmy John’s owner and the general manager — not Jimmy John’s employees.

“I hope people understand that Jimmy John’s employees are just kids trying to make their way,” Goodman said.

He said the employees of Jimmy John’s have been friendly and supportive throughout the dispute.

Goodman also said he appreciates the support he has been given from those in the community.

Merchant said Goodman is creating student opposition to Jimmy John’s.

“He is using the student emotion to go against us, which really isn’t fair,” Merchant said.