With such impactful changes coming, both now and in the future, it’s vital to have someone working for Bedford’s best interests—someone like Councillor Tim Outhit. “We have wonderful neighbourhoods being built, and with that comes a lot of new small businesses and neighbourhood businesses,” says Outhit. “The key for us is to maintain good growth while still cultivating that town feel and spirit.” Bedford seemingly has it all—parks, waterfronts, boutiques and malls, swimming pools and beaches. The community has a great blend of new restaurants and institutions that have stood proudly for decades. “We’ve done a wonderful job of incorporating modern elements while maintaining our pride and history,” says Outhit. “And we’ll continue to work together to make Bedford even better!”
We currently live in a society that is always on the go. This can prove unhealthy for us, especially if we don’t take care of ourselves by getting an adequate amount of relaxation and rest. The Compass Rose Health and Wellness Centre sees this, and works to provide a unique, welcoming environment to achieve a sense of peace and relaxation for their customers. A lifelong dream of founder/director Mike Buckley, the centre offers a number of holistic services. There is a sensory room aimed at children (visit their website for summer programing), massage, talk, and hypnotherapy.Notably, Compass Rose’s most popular service is salt water floatation therapy, a totally relaxed treatment method with more than 60 years of peer-reviewed research, that is effective in helping people relax, correct sleep disturbances and treat chronic pain. If you have PTSD, Fibromyalgia, arthritis, or just want to drop your anxiety or stress levels, check this out. The Compass Rose Health and Wellness Centre, Suite 200-36 Brookshire Court
Sunnyside Mall has slowly been increasing its number of retail boutique offerings, including Hammock by Thornbloom. As the name suggests, Hammock looks to capture the essence of a casual lifestyle and living space. Owner Elaine Shortt’s drive to create a comfortable and welcoming space is highlighted by much of the furniture being easy to maintain and flexible to various decor styles. Slip-covered furniture is the epitome of what Hammock aims for, as owners can trust in the longevity of the item, but with different slip covers available for the same frame, you can change the look and feel if need be. Hammock also has an in-house designer that will do consultations and floor plans for people needing help in finding the perfect arrangement. Hammock by Thornbloom, Sunnyside Mall, 1595 Bedford Highway
A good quality bagel is worth its weight in gold. Nova Scotia is no stranger to that knowledge, with Bedford now on the map as a premier bagel destination thanks to one of the country’s best bagel shops: Izzy’s Bagel Company. Ranked one of the top 10 specialty bagel locations in Canada by Shalom Magazine, Izzy’s has 18 distinct bagel styles (many of which are dairy free, vegan and all preservative free) and 10 different flavours of cream cheese—meaning you have endless possibilities for creating the perfect breakfast sandwich. Izzy’s also offers $1 espresso-based beverages, which is hard to find anywhere else. Owner Mark Brevozan has been delighted by how the community has embraced the uniqueness and world-class level his bagels are, including the California bagel gandwich, with fresh avocado, tomato and garlic and herb cream cheese. Izzy’s Bagel Company, 1180 Bedford Highway
Pete’s Fine Foods is a destination for foodies, gourmands, chefs and families. Catering to healthy lifestyles, special diets and ethnic cuisines they offer an outlet for local farms, specialty items and global influences. It all adds up to customers receiving a friendly, upscale and superior shopping experience. Old-world charm is paired with sophisticated style throughout every department at Pete’s Fine Foods. Pete’s represents more than 200 local vendors between their decadence, grocery, meat and seafood departments, along with one of the premier smoothie bars, they were the first retail outlet in Nova Scotia to offer dry-aged beef and many global specialties from Europe and Asia. Pete’s has long hung its hat on its extremely fresh produce, but some of their meals to go—their legendary West African peanut soup in particular—along with their guacamole and Chupadedos olives and a gluten-free eatery have been what kept customers coming back over and over. Pete’s Fine Foods, Sunnyside Mall, 1595 Bedford Highway
A key cog in any rising community is having its corporate citizens be as actively involved as its residential members. For Relish Gourmet Burgers serving fantastic burgers is only a part of the role they play. Focusing on exceptional food and a laid-back experience, head chef/general manager Dale King wants Bedford to be as much of a part of Relish as they are a part of Bedford. Providing community help when needed, sponsoring local sports teams and other community organizations, and using guest feedback to perfect their customer service are the pillars by which Relish stands. Using only fresh ingredients, Relish offers innovative burgers like the Coach U Burger, which combines a jalapeno blueberry preserve, cheese curds, back bacon and crispy pickled peppers—delicious! Relish Gourmet Burgers, 507B Larry Uteck Boulevard
What happens when you combine one of the most comfortable atmospheres in Bedford with a dedication to quality food, awesome service, local ownership and two patios? You get Resto, the epitome of a local, neighbourhood restaurant. Family-owned and -operated, Marlene Kenley and Ryan Hayes take great pride in Resto being a “from scratch” restaurant—almost every aspect of your meal is prepared in-house—and the vast majority of the menu is gluten free friendly. They’re both Bedford residents, meaning that the restaurant is local in every sense of the word. It adds a great deal of soul and passion to their food, especially Resto’s blackened scallops and pesto fingers, which are modern twists on familiar dishes. Resto Urban Dining, 1516 Bedford Highway
For the past 23 years, Bedford Buy & Sell has refurbished and sold appliances in the Bedford area. They put out the highest quality items, offer a warranty and always arrange delivery options for their clients. Most of Bedford Buy & Sell’s inventory comes new, directly from the manufacturer or large appliances chains, having suffered minor shipping damage. Bedford Buy & Sell offers either an in-store warranty or extended warranties from a third party to back both their new and used appliances. Whether you’re a landlord, a new home owner or just looking to update your current appliances, Bedford Buy & Sell is a great option to find a deal on new or refurbished items from the top brand names. Located at the north end of Bedford, and open six days a week. Visit the website for hours and directions. Bedford Buy and Sell, 1743 Bedford Highway
