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On an even playing field
Quinpool restaurants seek lounge licenses
Halifax News Net
By Lindsay Jones – The Weekly News

You may be able to meet for a drink at more spots on Quinpool Road, if some restaurateurs have their way.
Some Quinpool Road restaurant owners are appealing to city hall for the same right as eateries and bistros in Bayers Lake, Dartmouth Crossing and Spring Garden Road.
Currently, most restaurants on the busy commercial strip are not allowed to serve alcohol unless a patron orders food — a zoning law dating back to 1986.
Rock Island Cafe, Mezza Mediterranean Grill and Jimmy Zelios, co-owner of It’s All Greek To Me are putting the wheels in motion to ask city hall for special permission to have lounge licenses.
“The fact that it’s not an option is detrimental to some businesses,” said Zelios, who says his current liquor license at It’s All Greek To Me suits him fine, but, this spring, he’s looking at opening another businesses on Quinpool that would go well with a lounge license. (He didn’t want to disclose what it is yet.)
Khalid Wasi, owner of Rock Island Cafe, which offers Bermuda and Carribean cuisine and operates an open mic night on Thursdays, agreed.
“We’re just trying to put our restaurants on the same level playing field as the other restaurants in the downtown and other parts of the city, like in the business parks,” he said. “To me, it’s ludicrous that we don’t have that, and we have to jump through these hoops to get it done.”
At a recent Peninsula Community Council meeting, Northwest Arm-South End Coun. Sue Uteck asked city staff to look into the request and draft a report. She said the public will have the chance to weigh in on any proposed changes along the commercial strip.
“I think that once the neighbours understand this isn’t a new bar opening up. It’s not a lounge to 2 a.m. They just want to have the ability for customers to go in to listen to music and have a beer,” she said.
But, Zelios says, Quinpool shouldn’t be an extension of the downtown with happy hours and drink specials. If given the privilege, owners and managers have to act responsibly, he adds.
“We don’t want to offend anyone in the neighbourhood. The last thing we want is people leaving our establishments and causing a disturbance on the street or damaging property,” Zelios said. “We should be able to be on the same playing field, but we can’t let it get out of hand.”
Karla Nicholson, general manager of the Quinpool Road Mainstreet District Association, is on the same page. She says it’s not fair that people can meet everywhere else in the city for a glass of wine after work, but not at most of the businesses on Quinpool Road.
“They don’t want to extend their hours. They don’t want VLTs. They’re not looking for troublemakers. They’re looking for people who want to go in and have a glass of wine after work or sit there and have a glass of wine after their dinner without breaking the law,” Nicholson said.
Three businesses on Quinpool already have lounge licenses. Freeman’s Little New York and Atlantica Hotel Halifax’s lounge licenses were grandfathered in. Athens’ lounge license was included in its development agreement.

ljones@hfxnews.ca