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Things have changed at the Smiling Goat Organic Espresso Bar.
New owner Kit Singh took over the coffee shop at the end of January. He says he became instantly attracted to business opportunities in the city after taking a trip to Halifax in September from his home in England.
“When I came to know about this brand, I immediately said ‘Yes, I want to acquire it,’” recalls Singh. “It’s the best coffee they do in Halifax.”
Smiling Goat was initially owned by Geoffrey and Andrea Creighton, who opened their cafe on South Park Street in August 2007. After several years, they expanded the business to its second, larger location in Bishop’s Landing.
But the company appears to have been struggling. The previous owners declared bankruptcy just before Singh purchased and officially took over the business.
There have been other problems: Since Singh purchased the company two months ago, the majority of the coffee shops’ employees have quit. He attributes the turnover to workers finding new jobs after learning about the company’s financial problems.
Before moving to Canada, Singh was involved in the restaurant industry in England, briefly owning an eatery called Mama’s Joomla in the resort of Cleethorpes in Lincolnshire.
For eight years, he also owned St. George’s Care Home in Broughton, which closed at the end of March last year. Local news reports from the time state that health regulators cancelled the registration for the home’s parent company, Abbey House UK, after the business’ closure, citing numerous concerns with health and safety practices, lack of staff training and supervision.
“I’d rather not get into that kind of technical details,” Singh says, about the reason for the home’s closure. He does claim there’s a lot of red tape around the nursing and care business in England.
“The business went into difficulties and it was time to say goodbye.”
Singh says his previous companies are not relevant to his current work, and calls Halifax a fresh start for him to do business.
“There’s opportunity for a businessman like myself to come in and grow it—and be a part of it.”
Singh claims work at the Smiling Goat has been going well so far, and he hopes to eventually expand the cafe to more locations. In addition, he’s been eyeing other corporate ventures in Atlantic Canada.
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This article appears in Apr 7-13, 2016.
The staff that quit did so because the new owner does not know how to run a business or how to treat his staff properly. He also stopped doing some of the special coffees and reduces the menu. I am boycotting the place.
It might be worthwhile to interview some of the fourteen staff members who quit AFTER Mr Singh took over the business. 14/14 …seems like something is not right in Wonderland.
I am loving the new Smiling Goat! I was wondering if there was a change. It seems a lot more welcoming now- and the granola cups with yogurt are amazing! I never comment on articles but I felt compelled to in this case. This article seems like a bit of a smear campaign. So the new owner is turning around a failed busines. Isn’t this what we want to see in NS? I wish we had more Mr.Singh’s to look at reviving business in our province…and if it involves delicious coffee, all the better! Good luck Mr.Singh and welcome to Halifax. And seriously though, those granola cups.day-um!
Angie, you ARE management. You are not a barista as you’ve suggested in your comment – please be accurate on public message boards – you might give people the wrong idea…
For anyone interested – please see some links below pertaining to the Singh’s previous business ‘issues’ and why a lot of Halifax residents are worried for The Smiling Goat – a much loved brand in the area:
http://www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/Residents-day-care-home-closes-suddenly/story-26230646-detail/story.html
http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/GP-shock-following-termination-surgery-s-contract/story-27594546-detail/story.html
http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/Shock-4-800-patients-Grimsby-doctors-surgery/story-21100524-detail/story.html
http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/Grimsby-GP-left-patients-doctors-week-holiday/story-28356705-detail/story.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3356919/Third-GP-surgeries-putting-patients-risk.html
My experience of the ‘new’ Smiling Goat has been fantastic, there may have been an overhaul of staff since the change but it remains a friendly place with quick service. The espresso beverages are still the finest in Halifax, in my opinion, and the sweet and savoury food options cater to all dietary needs. The change in ownership, staff, and sweets is, in my opinion, a great rejuvenation for the city and the cafe.
Said no one ever… @pl264
The old staff sucked. The new staff has the nice girl from the Black Market. Also, the baked goods sucked before the ownership change and they still suck now.
“I’d rather not get into that kind of technical details,” Singh says, about the reason for the home’s closure. He does claim there’s a lot of red tape around the nursing and care business in England.
Well, that in itself says a lot about the new owner and likely his outlook on his new business and staff here, as well Watch your backs staff and make sure you are paid up to date etc., at all times. If things were not getting hot for him in the UK he would likely still be there and not hanging out in Hfx.
sounds like a few other people we know also started with a bumpy road….
Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, Walt Disney….
http://small-bizsense.com/10-famous-entrepreneurs-who-failed-in-business-before-becoming-successful/
Why all the negativity?
To Yeah I was a C3POP: The former staff were wonderful. I’d been a regular for the past 6 years or so and witnessed nothing but excellent service and good attitudes. To the new staff, I can’t say to much. But from what I had experienced they are under a bit of stress but were friendly and very nice.
To Katie Durand: The negativity comes from the decline in quality, selection, and a reaction to the massive turn over and past reputation of the new owner. I must give respect to the current staff for their efforts but in all honesty I don’t know if it would be enough to make the business succeed from such a disappointing decline from what the Smiling goat once was.
Why has the gay pride flag been removed from the front window since the ownership has changed hands?
@lovinglife Because the new owners are homophobes.
What Singh calls “red tape ” is known in the UK as Quality Care Commission whose function is to ensure the appropriate professional care of both residents of residential/ nursing homes and the patients of General Practitioners.
Singh has left in his transatlantic wake a significant number of disillusioned and financially disadvantaged people who placed their trust in them, only to have their dreams shattered.