Hungry Haligonians wondering where they can find Jon Alan's famous certified Angus beef steaks need only look around the corner from the former Jon Alan's Steak and Chophouse location. Luxx, in the Park Lane Mall on Spring Garden Road, now goes by the name Jon Alan's Luxx. Victor Fineberg, owner of Jon Alan's, purchased the former Birmingham Bar and Grill location and opened Luxx last year. When the 10-year lease was up at the old Jon Alan's on Dresden Row, he decided to consolidate the two restaurants. "We've taken the most popular Jon Alan's dishes and inserted them into the Luxx menu," says assistant manager Dale Redmond. Diners will still be offered the variety of the Luxx menu but they now have the option of the Jon Alan's steaks. Redmond also says the wine list has been completely changed to cater to the new clientele. For more information, call 405-4060.
Harbourside bay
Walk your aching feet into the new Mahone Bay Trading Company store, opening soon in the Historic Properties on Lower Water Street. This will be the first Mahone Bay Trading Company store downtown but the second in HRM (there's also a Bayers Lake location). The new store will sell a wide variety of comfortable shoes and sandals, including brands such as Clarks, Naot, Rieker and Portia. "It's a great location," says owner John Bourinot. "It's right on the street and has big windows." The shop is taking over the spot once occupied by Handsmiths and Bourinot expects it will be open in about a week. The Mahone Bay Trading Company chain first opened in Mahone Bay seven years ago. For more information, call the store at 444-7454.
Heppy heppy, joy joy
Heppy's Pies has long been a favourite at the Halifax Farmers' Market. Now the business has expanded to include a retail store at 30 Herring Cove Road. Heppy's had been supplying local grocery stores with its homemade meat pies but as owner-operator Corrine M. Weir says, "We wanted a piece of our own pie." Weir is currently promoting her products as quick and easy summer foods. "You can barbecue our pies and quiches and I try to get in touch with campers and cottagers about our pies. They're the perfect weekend food when it's hot out and you don't want to turn on the oven." If you don't believe you can barbecue a pie, go to the store and see for yourself. Heppy's always has hot samples available for customers in its cozy Acadian-themed shop. So far, business has been good. "The community has been more than supportive," says Weir, who also wants customers to know that her shop is one minute from the Armdale Rotary. Her pies are also still available at Planet Organic on Quinpool Road, at all Chris Brother's locations and at the Farmers' Market every Saturday. "I will never leave the Farmers' Market," she says. For more information and to see a full product selection, visit the website at: heppys.com, or call the shop at 479-PIES.
Overhauled mall
If you've been to the Halifax Shopping Centre lately, you've probably noticed some changes. And if you haven't been there lately, hold onto your hats! The mall is nearing the end of a $14-million overhaul, which includes both interior and exterior renovations. According to marketing director Linda Townsend, the interior work is 95 percent finished and work on the exterior will begin soon. Inside, the mall looks a lot brighter thanks to a new paint job, new flooring and hundreds of additional lights. The food court has been completely redone, complete with fancy new tables and chairs. The mall also has a new customer-service centre, new doors, new soft seating throughout for tired shoppers and, perhaps the most exciting, all-new washrooms. Townsend explains, "It's fairly typical for a shopping centre to be renovated every 15 years or so. And we actually haven't been renovated since 1989." Next up: The entire exterior of the mall will be painted and all signage will be replaced. The parking deck will also be getting a new stone finish. Asked about any new stores we can expect to see in the centre, Townsend mentions Banana Republic and Town Shoes and says those are the only ones she's allowed to talk about right now. Do I smell a Bloomingdale's? (Probably not).
Bits and bites
Naughty By Nature has closed its shop on Quinpool Road, but there will soon be a new store in Bayer's Lake. The adult store and tattoo-parlour chain will also be keeping open its locations in Dartmouth and Lower Sackville. For more information or to shop online, go to the website at naughtybynatureonline.com...The Halifax Shopping Centre Annex is now home to a trio of plus-size ladies' clothing stores. Addition-Elle, Pennington's and MXM have now opened in the space once occupied only by Pennington's. All three stores are part of the Reitman's Group of retail clothing shops. Neither Addition-Elle nor Pennington's is new to HRM, but it will be the area's first MXM store. MXM is aimed at younger size-14-plus customers...Milano's Ristorante at 6430 Chebucto Road is undergoing some cosmetic renovations, which should be complete by next week. The patios will also soon be open. Contact the restaurant at 431-6500.
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