Oh boy, oh boy, it’s going to be a good couple of weeks in downtown Dartmouth when Portland Street welcomes not one, but two new businesses to its strip. Bringing a healthy dose of beautiful to the former Joe’s Laundromat are Kept Gift & Housewares (127 Portland Street) and next door neighbour The Dart Gallery (127A Portland Street).
Behind Kept are Charlotte Jewer and Alexandra Sims, one time coworkers whose “maybe someday” plans are coming to fruition with a shop that mixes contemporary art, vintage and handmade jewellery and accessories, stationery, home decor and more. “We stalked the street and talked to everyone,” laughs Jewer of scoring the Joe’s space. “I love the feel over here. We didn’t even think about Halifax, it was Portland Street or bust.”
With a focus on Canadian suppliers and local crafters and artists, Kept’s darling selection has been thoughtfully chosen---see for yourself this Saturday, September 28 from 4-7pm at the grand opening. (There’ll be snacks and entertainment, too.) The following weekend, we’ll celebrate The Dart’s arrival when the clock strikes 4:04pm on October 4. Jane MacDougald’s contemporary gallery will give some love to local artists with its opening group show and later in the month will collaborate with the mighty Halifax Pop Explosion for a show opening October 19 (the night of Nocturne).
We see only good things at 127 Portland Street.