It’s Round Two for Palooka’s Boxing Club (2110 Gottingen). The non-profit agency has been trying to get its liquor licence amended such that it can host regular Friday night amateur boxing events and sell alcohol to the public attending. (Presently, the club’s licence allows for alcohol sales only at private functions.) The added revenue will go a long way to supporting the club’s mission of bringing young people into the sport, says general manager Colin MacDonald. The idea behind the Friday night events, says MacDonald, is to have “parents come in, see their kids do some sparring, see some local talent, have a little bit of fun and support the club.”
Round One in the amendment process was the Utility and Review Board, which ruled that an expanded licence for Palookas would be “unfair” to existing licensees. But that logic escapes Michelle Strum, president of the Gottingen Street Merchants’ Association and owner of nearby Alter Egos. “I think it would be great for the street for Palookas to hold more events,” says Strum.
Palooka’s has appealed the UARB ruling to the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal, seeking a reversal of the ruling and issuance of the expanded application.
This article appears in Aug 20-26, 2009.
What a great idea! Casual Friday night fights. It’d be the best bar in Halifax. Admittedly, there’s not much competition.
I think it would be great the neighbourhood. If parents and friends of boxers were coming in for a 7:00 card and having a couple of drinks they are more likely to show up early and grab dinner on the street or go out after the card and see live music or grab a few more drinks. Palooka’s wouldn’t be competing with other licensed businesses, it would compliment them.
I am a retired boxer from Halifax and I see no harm in the public having a few drinks with freinds and family as they enjoy the boxing card . There are many spin offs with having a regular friday night fights in the city for all bussinesses in the area Halifax was once the boxing capital of Canada back in the 70,s and 80,s and its time we bring back the sport fulltime.This is a great sport with little expence to the kids involved I know I was one of these kids and it me focuses on a positive note ,Yours Truely Mike Supple