Getting down to business: 2017’s openings and closings

Here’s our annual round-up of the openings and closings that changed the small business landscape this past year. We’re happy to report the hellos (103) far outweigh the farewells (58) in 2017!

As usual we’ve left out big box shops and mall news to concentrate on locals (save for IKEA because it was probably the biggest retail story of the year), and we’re not discounting all of the renovations and new locations that kept our neighbourhoods interesting— there just wasn’t room to do it all.

If your favourite spot from 2017 isn’t on this list, let us know by commenting on this post or emailing shoptalk@thecoast.ca. Special thanks to tipster @HalifaxReTales.

Opened

Chatime, 1070 Barrington Street
Crepe Crepe Cafe, 1070 Barrington Street
Gangnam Korean BBQ, 1261 Barrington St
How Bazaar, 1727 Barrington Street
Man Bean, 1284 Barrington Street
Mr. Bern’s BBQ On The Run, 1118 Barrington Street
Tin Pan Alley, 5201 Duke Street
Wonderful Bao Bao, 1022 Barrington Street

Closed

Ginger Grass, 1284 Barrington Street
Foreign Affair, 1705 Barrington Street
Hot Plate The Sizzling House, 1022 Barrington Street

Opened

Aquarica, 1600 Bedford Highway
Blue Elephant Thai, 81 Peakview Way
Cheese Curds Gourmet Burgers + Poutinerie, 507 Larry Uteck Boulevard
Jasmine Chinese, 622 Sackville Drive
Koroni Pizzeria, 1312 Bedford Highway
Let’s Ko, 604 Bedford Highway
Millstone Public House, 50 Gary Martin Drive
M&J’s Eatery, 813 Bedford Highway
Rusty Zipper, 575 Sackville Drive
St. Louis Bar & Grill, 792 Sackville Drive
Turtle Back Tap and Grill, 3187 Highway 2
Vernon’s Thunderbird, 2094 Hammonds Plains Road

Closed

Bicycles Plus, 1248 Bedford Highway
Chef’s Menu, 518 Sackville Drive
Cristall Wine Merchants, 1595 Bedford Highway
Patty Cakes Bakery, 131 Sackville Drive
Prospector’s Pub, 75 Peakview Way
Relish, 507 Larry Uteck Boulevard
Tazah Pizza, 540 Southgate Drive

Opened

Bagel Montreal Style, 135 Wyse Road
Birdie’s Bread Co., 380 Pleasant Street
Chico’s Island, 95 Caledonia Road
Giggles Pizza, 575 Main Street Unit 4
Hoghorn BBQ, 55 Tacoma Drive
Hotchkiss Furnishing, 121 Ilsey Avenue
IKEA, 645 Cutler Avenue
Kenny’s Pizza, 1038 Cole Harbour Road
Mezza Lebanese Kitchen, 6 Forest Hills Parkway
Pleasant Street Diner, 205 Pleasant Street
Pure Elegance Bridal and Formal, 958 Cole Harbour Road
Sonia’s Stone Oven Pizza, 635 Portland HIlls
Stockpot Cafe, 20 Wright Avenue
Thirsty Turtle Bar & Grill, 245 Waverley Road

Closed

Angie’s of Burnside, 50 Akerley Boulevard
Chico’s Island, 95 Caledonia Road
Coles Neighbourhood Restaurant, 972 Cole Harbour Road
Downeast Beer Factory, 612 Windmill Road
Feed My Heart and Soul Pizza, 31 Government Wharf
Hoghorn BBQ, 55 Tacoma Drive
Hum’s Kitchen, 516 Pleasant Street
Piez Bistro, 635 Portland Hills
Star Fresh Diner, 20 Wright Avenue
Stockpot Cafe, 20 Wright Avenue
Woody’s BBQ, 159 Hector Gate, 159 Hector Gate

Opened

Closed

BayB Boutique, 145 Portland Street
Just Us! 15 Kings Wharf Place
KEW, 102 Portland Street
Neiforth Furnishings, 35 Portland Street

Opened

aFrite,1360 Lower Water Street
The Bird’s Nest, Discovery Centre, 1215 Lower Water Street
The Cake Lady, Halifax Waterfront
Chowder House, Halifax Waterfront
Deep Sea Donuts, Halifax Waterfront
Grounded Coffee Bar, 1869 Upper Water Street
NSKDS, 1876 Hollis Street
Orso Pub & Grill, 1859 Brunswick Street
OZ, 1887 Granville Street
The Pint Public House, 1575 Argyle Street
Pizza Girls, 1560 Grafton Street
Roll on Two Chimney Cakes, 1810 Granville Street
The Rooftop, 1567 Grafton Street
Stone’s Throw Patio, 1919 Upper Water Street
Vinyl Retro Dance Lounge, 1575 Argyle Street

Closed

The Argyle Bar & Grill,  1575 Argyle Street
Choco Cafe, 1360 Lower Water Street
Cyclone Fitness, 200-1717 Barrington Street
Flipburger, 1565 Argyle Street
Juice Press, 1949 Upper Water Street
Mongoli Grill, 1645 Granville Street
Soap In Your Mouth, 5239 Blowers Street
Two If By Sea, Halifax, 1869 Upper Water Street
Yeh!, 1560 Grafton Street

Opened

14 Bells Art Gallery, 5523 Young Street
Anti Fashion, 5687 West Street
Bar Kismet, 2733 Agricola Street
Chain Yard Urban Cidery and Unchained Kitchen,
2606 Agricola Street
CHKN CHOP, 6041 North Street
Church’s Barbershop, 2468 Agricola Street
Compass Distilling, 2533 Agricola Street
Espresso 46, 2867 Isleville Street
Fox Hill Market & Mexican Deli, 2760 Robie Street
Haligonian Cafe, 2394 Agricola Street
Heartwood, 3061 Gottingen Street
Lola and Odin, 5881 Almon Street
Midnight Oil Print & Design House, 2168 Gottingen Street
Nearby Planet, 2093 Gottingen Street
Octopus Skateboards, 5687 West Street, Unit 200
Rogue, 6331 Lady Hammond Road
Spirit Spa, 5540 Kaye Street
Third Earth Collectibles, 5576 Cornwallis Street
Vandal Doughnuts, 2605 Agricola Street
Water & Bone, 5687 Charles Street
Zekara, 2698 Agricola Street

Closed

Abode, 5881 Almon Street
Ace Burger Co., 2605 Agricola Street
Agora, 2394 Agricola Street
Anti Fashion, 5687 West Street
Big Pony, 2168 Gottingen Street
Bikes by Dave, 6191 Young Street
The Company House, 2202 Gottingen Street
Good Food Emporium, 2186 Windsor Street
Greek Village, 2733 Agricola Street
Haligonian Cafe, 2394 Agricola Street
Waffle Love, 5530 Kaye Street

Opened

Benny’s Burgers, 1545 Grafton Street
The Captain’s Boil, 5680 Spring Garden Road
The Daily Grind, 1479 Birmingham Street
Mezza Lebanese Kitchen, Dal SUB, 6136 University Avenue
NSLC Express, 5657 Spring Garden Road
Reality Stop VR, 1482 Queen Street
The Shop Upstairs, 5486 Spring Garden Road
Smiling Goat, 5896 Spring Garden Road
Spinco, 5481 Clyde Street
Sweet & Tears Tea House and Dessert,
5475 Spring Garden Road
Tart And Soul Cafe, 6389 Coburg Road
A Taste of the East, 7-1589 Dresden Row
Way 2 Roll, 1480 Brenton Street

Closings

Bonne Cuisine, 5640 Spring Garden Road
Bubba Ray’s Sports Bar, 5650 Spring Garden Road
Goji’s Frozen Yogurt, 5486 Spring Garden Road
Preamble Footwear, 1457 South Park Street
Sweet & Tears Tea House and Dessert, 5475 Spring Garden Road
Vica Boutique, 5475 Spring Garden Road

Openings

7 Peppers Grill, 6290 Quinpool Road
The Golden Samosa, 480 Parkland Drive
M&Y Asian Grocery Store, 2150 Windsor Street
Lazeezo, 480 Parkland Drive
One Day Affair, 47 William’s Lake Road
Roll The Dice Board Game Cafe, 6386 Quinpool Road
Roundabout Bicycles, 7111 Churchill Drive 
Silong Express, 16 Titus Street
Six303 Eatery, 6303 Quinpool Road
Rinaldos, 2186 Windsor Street
West End Beer Wine Spirits, 287 Lacewood Drive

Closings

Bobbleheads Pub & Eatery, 30 Farnham Gate Road
Layla Seafood and Mediterranean Cuisine, 480 Parkland Drive
Modern Shanghai Bistro, 6253 Quinpool Road
The Oxford, 6408 Quinpool Road
Thai Ivory Cuisine, 6303 Quinpool Road

*Bedford/Sackville includes Hammonds Plains and Fall River
**West End includes Quinpool, Fairview, Clayton Park, Spryfield

This article appears in Dec 7-13, 2017.