Local business and consumer news. Openings, closings, deals, sales, what to buy and where to buy it, we round it all up and give you an insider's shopper's special on small business in Halifax. Contact shoptalk@thecoast.ca to send a tip.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Win Wellness Package with The Yoga Loft
Posted by Carsten Knox on Fri, Mar 12, 2010 at 4:00 AM
This month The Yoga Loft (5663 Cornwallis Street, 429-3330) is holding a $1,000 Wellness Package contest, which is free to enter. If you win, you’ll get more than just free yoga, you get a Swedish and a Thai yoga massage, a nutritional consultation, a raw food cooking class, an Ikebana lesson, a Chinese energy treatment, an acupuncture session, a chiropractic evaluation, an ergonomic assessment for your workspace, a life coaching session, natural bath and skin products, a basket of healthy and delicious treats, and more. The Loft is also starting a monthly holistic educational newsletter. For more information on all of this, visit their online presence at theyogaloft.ca.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Downtown openings, closings and buildings
Posted by Carsten Knox on Thu, Mar 11, 2010 at 4:00 AM
We smell a trend. Joining Boneheads in the southern BBQ restaurant scene is Q Smokehouse & Southern Barbeque (1580 Argyle Street, 407-4006), offering ribs, chicken, brisket, wings, sandwiches---including pulled pork, and even Louisiana po-boys---as well as delectable collection of sides, salads and desserts. Plus, it is licensed. In other resto news, Café Chiante, formerly at 5165 South Street but closed since a fire, is moving into 1241 Barrington Street, recently the home of TwelveFortyOne and Bear. Just a couple of doors down, it looks like Cargo & James has shut down for good. A block away, Morris East (5212 Morris Street, 444-7663) is offering a new Saturday lunch menu, featuring wood-fired skillet eggs, housemade bagels and something delicious-sounding called The Carrot Colada (made with freshly juiced organic carrots, rum and Brazilian coconut water).
Oh, and Sensationally Yours has opened at 1870 Albermarle Street, offering gems, beads, jewellery and accessories. The business is reachable by phone at 425-1584. And Hatley in the Granville Mall is having a liquidation sale, they’re closing. In other Barrington Street development news, you may remember Shoptalk broke the news of Starfish Properties’ plans for the former Sam The Record Man and Ginger’s Tavern building. Well, we’ve now heard those plans have recently been approved by the city’s Design Review Committee. And the CD Plus building was purchased by Churchill Steel & Timber, a company that also owns the historic Marble Building, housing Greco/Capt. Sub and Lydon Lynch Architects.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Chatters Opens
Posted by Carsten Knox on Thu, Mar 4, 2010 at 4:00 AM
Alberta-based hair salon/beauty parlour/beauty supplies store Chatters opened a location in Dartmouth Crossing in December (86 Hector Gate, 407-1011) and today, March 4, is opening a second location in Bayers Lake (194 Chain Lake Drive, 407-4124).
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Scotia Square changes
Posted by Carsten Knox on Wed, Mar 3, 2010 at 4:00 AM
Scotia Square’s Pay a Dollar Store closed on Friday last week, and that isn’t the only change in the downtown mall: The Wicker Emporium is closing, “hopefully at the end of March,” says a helpful staff person over the buzz of customers and cash registers. She says “hopefully” because it’s possible they could close sooner. Right now everything is in liquidation, 50 percent off most products in the homegrown, home accessories business, with key items going for as much as 70 percent off. Though Wicker Emporium won’t be downtown anymore, there are still locations at Halifax Shopping Centre, Bayers Lake, Sunnyside Mall, MicMac Mall and in May a new location will open in Dartmouth Crossing.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Central Grill closes
Posted by Carsten Knox on Tue, Mar 2, 2010 at 4:00 AM
“Burn-out,” says Evangelos Panopalis, giving a reason for the closure of The Central Grill (6303 Quinpool Road), a steakhouse the restaurateur started last summer when he moved his other business, Greek eatery Athens (6273 Quinpool Road) into the former Quincy’s space up the block. “I was working 15 hours a day,” says Panopalis. “It wasn’t fun. I spent the last year walking back and forth between the restaurants. So I made a very personal decision” to close the grill. If that sounds heavy, Panopolis is quick to point out he’s feeling pretty good about the whole thing. “It was very positive for me. I’m the Athens guy. I enjoy the lifestyle of running a restaurant.” The key phrase being “a restaurant,” not “two restaurants.”
Monday, March 1, 2010
March Markdown at Argyle Fine Art
Posted by Carsten Knox on Mon, Mar 1, 2010 at 4:00 AM
Appreciators of local art, you have until the end of the day on Friday, March 5 to make it down to Argyle Fine Art (1869 Upper Water Street, 425-9456) to browse the work in their March Markdown collection, stored in the gallery’s upstairs space. There you’ll find mostly inventory pieces, paintings, photographs and prints, some discounted by up to 50 percent.
Cole Harbour still stands following Canada hockey victory
Posted by Carsten Knox on Mon, Mar 1, 2010 at 4:00 AM
Though Canada’s 3-2 victory over the USA in Olympic Hockey Sunday night created spontaneous outpouring of joy across this land of ours, there was perhaps no better place to be than at Cole Harbour’s premier sportsbar Big Leagues (4 Forest Hills Parkway, 462-2721), where CTV had cameras in position to record the unbridled enthusiasm following the overtime goal by local boy-done-good Sidney Crosby. “It was beautiful, buddy,” said bartender Michael Melanson on Monday morning, reporting that with a seating capacity of 350, it was standing room only. “We had the most awesome time. I’m sure there are a few hurting heads this morning.” Over on the Halifax side of the harbour, Spring Garden road was temporarily shut down following the win as celebrations spilled out from establishments such as Gullabull’s, The Oasis and Bubba Ray’s into the street. “There’s not too much damage this morning,” said a cheery Bernard Smith, manager of the Spring Garden Area Business Association. While business continues as usual in Atlantic Canada’s busiest shopping district, Smith says the stormy weather over the preceding few days caused more problems than did a few blissed-out hockey fans. “The wind did a heck of a job on us,” he said. “People have been busily putting back pieces of roof over the weekend.”
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Bouclair opens
Posted by Carsten Knox on Sat, Feb 27, 2010 at 4:00 AM
Home accessories store Bouclair (194 Chain Lake Drive), has arrived at Bayers Lake. With 97 stores already in Ontario and Quebec, this the first store in Nova Scotia for the Point Clare, Quebec-based business, opened as part of a nationwide expansion strategy. They carry bedding collections, blinds, curtains, lamps, et cetera.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Gullabull’s getting hot
Posted by Carsten Knox on Fri, Feb 26, 2010 at 4:00 AM
“With the hockey this week it’s really been picking up,” says manager Mark Richardson about business at restaurant/waterhole Gullabull’s Bar and Grill (upstairs at Spring Garden Place, 5640 Spring Garden, 407-3696), still a fairly new operation on the Spring Garden scene. Happy hours and events are being planned for the near future, and right now, Rib Night is a definite thing: wander in on a Thursday evening and get a full rack of ribs for half-price.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Comic sale
Posted by Carsten Knox on Thu, Feb 25, 2010 at 4:00 AM
Being a comic collector can be an expensive hobby, especially if you’re dazzled by all those deluxe trade paperback editions and how they look stacked so neatly on your bookshelf. (Yes! Shoptalk admits it! We are that person! Arggh!) That’s why it’s a great idea to take advantage of a sale, in order to both fill holes in your collection as well as try out some titles you may have heard good things about but never read. This Sunday, February 28, drop by Strange Adventures (5262 Sackville Street, 425-2140) for a ginormous back issue sale, all the comics in the back area racks are going for half-price. Can’t beat that, suckers. (And by suckers, we mean people like us.) Plus, haggling with the store owner is encouraged.
Name changes
Posted by Carsten Knox on Thu, Feb 25, 2010 at 4:00 AM
Swanki Guru (Purdy’s Wharf, 1949 Upper Water Street, 420-7965) is now called Bish Salon. Though the name has changed, the salon and environmentally sensitive hair products outlet is still owned and operated by Kevan Bish, who changed the name to bring it in line with his shampoo product line Bish Live. He is now looking into adding to that brand with a line of organic skin creams and healing salves.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Glamour Puss closing
Posted by Carsten Knox on Wed, Feb 24, 2010 at 4:00 AM
With their lease up and a future in a new digs for the swanky pet supply outlet uncertain, this may be your last chance to stop by Glamour Puss & The Naughty Dog Pet Boutique (1551 South Park Street, 405-4763). February 28 will be the store’s final day.
Love, Me Ts Event on Now
Posted by Carsten Knox on Wed, Feb 24, 2010 at 4:00 AM
Bring in your pre-loved, stained, logo besmirched or otherwise used t-shirts to Love, Me Boutique (1539 Birmingham Street, 444-3668) by Friday, March 5 and you can have a whole new creation, one-of-a-kind and reimagined by the hottest local designers. You’ll be asked to fork over $45 (cash only) and to fill out a questionnaire about sizing, likes and dislikes of the shirt. You shirt will then be given to one of the participating designers---Kim Munson of Orphanage Clothing, Veronica MacIsaac or Jennifer Young of Pip and Pipper---to be recreated. Return to Love, Me between April 20 and April 24 to see all the recreations displayed, then pick up your customized t-shirt after April 27. As Love, Me’s owner Chara Kingston explains, “This event is a great way to showcase local designers as well as garner interest in the sustainable clothing movement.”
Restaurants closing and staying open
Posted by Carsten Knox on Wed, Feb 24, 2010 at 4:00 AM
Shoptalk is disappointed to report that TwelveFortyOne (1241 Barrington Street) has closed. It was the restaurant that sprung up with the sudden departure of star chef Ray Bear. But definitely not closed is the Rock Island Café (6293 Quinpool Road, 406-4385). Though Shoptalk reported earlier in February that the business is up for lease, owner Kahlid Awasi explains that the intent is to find a capable restaurant runner who would be interested in coming aboard to operate the business, while Awasi is actually considering opening other locations of the Bermudan eatery. He reiterates that in the meantime the restaurant is still very much open, with plans afoot to offer student discounts in the near future. So drop in and try one of their delicious fish cakes, chicken pies or rotis, and wash it down with some Caribbean punch and/or pop.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Nurtured looks forward to spring
Posted by Carsten Knox on Tue, Feb 23, 2010 at 4:00 AM
Brightening up the north end of Halifax with their ornate window display is Nurtured Products for Parenting (2571 Robie Street, 405-4367), the business that was started online by mom and owner April MacKinnon and last year moved into its current storefront location. “We’re getting in the mood for spring,” says customer service rep Jessica Brannen. “Even though it may be far away.” The spring-themed window display includes flower pots and plants, handmade nests, and simple wooden toys from an American company called Camden Rose, which include eggs, rolling pins and milk cups. Besides cloth diapers and baby things---popular are Baby Legs leg warmers in spring colours and Isa Booties, eco-friendly baby shoes---Nurtured also carries coloured pencils, sketch pads and art supplies, which Brannen says are part of the store’s efforts to bring in products for older children. Along with that you’ll also find a collection of kids books by local publisher Nimbus, including A Halifax ABC by Yolanda Poplawska, an illustrated book of Halifax scenes to accompany letters of the alphabet. And though Nurtured is now very much a part of the north end Halifax scene, they still operate an online boutique. Visit nurtured.ca to see the wealth of products available.
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