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  #1  
Old Posted Jan 24, 2009, 2:26 PM
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The Halifax Bar Scene

Looks like our Downtown is getting a few new bars and restaurants this Spring. It great to see the empty spaces be used up by Halifax's favourite activities, eating and drinking!

New eateries, bars for downtown Halifax
Some old standbys also getting facelifts

By STEVE PROCTOR Business Editor
Sat. Jan 24 - 5:37 AM

There will be a revamped menu of food and entertainment in downtown Halifax before the snow melts.

Joe McGuiness, co-owner of Durty Nelly’s Irish Pub, said Friday his new pub should be open by Feb. 16.

Located at the corner of Sackville and Argyle streets in the building the Mercury Restaurant and Bar used to call home, the 177-seat pub has interior fittings that were designed and built in Ireland and then shipped to Halifax.

"So it will be an authentic Irish pub down to the chairs around the tables and the tile on the floor," said Mr. McGuiness, who has previously worked at Fox H’rbr, Casino Nova Scotia and with the provincial food and beverage association. His partner in the business is Kyle Drake, a Saint Mary’s University business student and former Huskies football player.

A television crew from Toronto is documenting the construction effort for use as a one-hour episode in a new series scheduled to air on the Food Network this fall. Film crews will do their opening shots next week and then be on the premises from Feb. 8 to 15 with celebrity chef David Adjey offering tips to the new owners on how to make the business stand out.

Around the corner and up the street, renovations are underway to accommodate the move of the Wooden Monkey, the organic operation that opened on Argyle Street in late 2004. Lil MacPherson, the owner, is moving the restaurant to the former Beacon Securities office on Grafton Street.

"We’re doubling our seating capacity," she said Friday. "We’ll have two floors of seating, one of which will have great bar music."

The theme will be environmental, with straw and clay walls and lots of gently used fittings.

"We will have a reservations-only closing party on the 18th. We will be eating whatever is left in the fridge, and then I’m going to ask guests to take their chairs and walk them up the street to the new place. It will be a gas."

Over on Spring Garden Road, there’s renovation work underway for a new gastro pub. The owners of the Old Triangle Ale House are hoping the work will be one in time for an opening at the end of March. Called Minstrels, the 150-seat operation in the former Thirsty Duck space will have a "funky East Coast flavour" with lots of live music.

Victor Syperek, a restaurant owner who found himself in financial difficulty late last year, said changes are also afoot in his operations. He said the Seahorse Tavern will be revamped to become "one of the city’s premier live music venues" and the Marquee Club, which will close Feb. 7, will become the site of a new bar fronted by Craig Mercer, a guitarist with the Jimmy Swift Band.

Mr. Mercer, contacted on tour in Peterborough, Ont., said the bar will be called Paragon Theatre and will use most of the upstairs of the current Marquee Club, but nothing on the second floor. It will have a cafe and art gallery in the front, with a bar to accommodate 600 patrons in the rear

Partners in the project include Mark Townsend, the Marquee’s current general manager and Peter Farmer, an artist from Montreal. The trio have plans for the space ready and hope to open in early April, but they can’t start renovation until the Marquee closes.

Mr. Syperek said the losses associated with operating the Marquee Club were the root cause of problems that forced him to seek creditor protection in late December. He said development of a plan to get him out of the financial trouble is going well, and he’s hopeful creditors owed more than $500,000 will accept the plan. The details of that plan were not available Friday.
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  #2  
Old Posted Jan 24, 2009, 11:33 PM
terrynorthend terrynorthend is offline
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Interesting about the Marquee space. I guess Syperek isn't building condos after all, or anytime soon.
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  #3  
Old Posted Jan 25, 2009, 12:12 AM
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One wonders how Syperek can be doing anything when he is in bankruptcy reorganization to the tune of $500,000 and his creditors are still holding the bag. I cannot imagine anyone would lend him any money right now.

I hate to be negative but I see the Irish bar dying a quick death. It has a unappealing name, is trying to compete with the Old Triangle, is taking way too long to open and they have burned through a lot of cash waiting for that day. McGuiness does not have the most stellar track record either, and his business partner sounds more like a fall guy than anything. As for the Wooden Monkey, nothing food/beverage related has ever succeeded in that building. It has been the kiss of death for every outfit that has tried it. I suspect they have made a fatal mistake.
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Old Posted Jan 25, 2009, 12:22 AM
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I can't say I'd like to have lunch at a place called "Durty Nelly's"...
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  #5  
Old Posted Jan 25, 2009, 2:00 AM
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The Monkey has an extremely loyal following and very unique offering... they will do well in any space... I would say.
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  #6  
Old Posted Jan 29, 2009, 9:54 PM
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Durty Nelly's? Why would you on the one hand go to lengths to have a nicely renovated interior and then pick a name that makes your place sound like a total dive?

Anyway, good to hear that there are new places opening.
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  #7  
Old Posted Jan 29, 2009, 10:57 PM
hfx_chris hfx_chris is offline
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It's just a name... at the end of the day, as long as it has a good atmosphere and serves liquor, what is there to complain about.
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  #8  
Old Posted Jan 30, 2009, 1:54 AM
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none of this is very good news for the Henry House...we have a very loyal folowing similar to the monkey's though...and we also have massive renovations...(including our new interior being fabricated in England)...in the works...there will also be a brand new 3rd floor pub..
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  #9  
Old Posted Jan 30, 2009, 1:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Barrington south View Post
none of this is very good news for the Henry House...we have a very loyal folowing similar to the monkey's though...and we also have massive renovations...(including our new interior being fabricated in England)...in the works...there will also be a brand new 3rd floor pub..
That sounds very exciting! Can't wait for the third floor. What is the timeline? I frequent the Henry House and am not sure why you feel this is bad news?
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  #10  
Old Posted Jan 31, 2009, 2:20 AM
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That sounds very exciting! Can't wait for the third floor. What is the timeline? I frequent the Henry House and am not sure why you feel this is bad news?
Thanks for showing interest!......I am responsible for most of the new 3rd floor pub's design, and I am very excited about the project...it's going to be a really special space... and all fabricated in England. The time line has unfortunately changed due to the uncertain economy however. We where supposed to have started gutting the 3rd floor at the start of Jan. but we are now going to wait another month, reassess and then hopefully proceed from there. Either way we hope to be open for business upstairs for the end of the Summer. I will updated everyone when some progress has been made, and I'll put it on this thread. Hollistreet did you like our new patio last summer?...that was my creation, and it worked out really well, I was very proud of it and I think upstairs will be just as much a success. And once the 3rd floor has been completed I will start making plans for the main floor (dinning room). I already have some big ideas for that floor and in the end it is going to be vastly improved...completely renovated from ceiling to floor. The downstairs pub will remain much the same though, just a new carpet, lighting and a new stereo system...well that's about it...thanks again for for the interest hollistreet!
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  #11  
Old Posted Jan 31, 2009, 2:54 AM
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if anyone is interested in see what the 3rd floor pub will resemble-and what I have used for inspiration, google- "the old English pub homepage" and follow the first website...it took me months of studying pubs and searching for, in my opinion, what would be a perfect pub for the 3rd floor, and after reveinwing pubs from every corner of the earth, I settled on "the old English pub " in Denmark. I love this pub and hope to recreate it very closely. Much effort will be put into trying to exactly recreate the beautiful "Brunswick bar" that is the centerpiece of this gorgeous pub!....what does everyone think? I welcome any feedback!!...ohhh and sorry, I don't know how to make a direct link...you've got to search old school style...
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  #12  
Old Posted Jan 31, 2009, 2:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Barrington south View Post
Thanks for showing interest!......I am responsible for most of the new 3rd floor pub's design, and I am very excited about the project...it's going to be a really special space... and all fabricated in England. The time line has unfortunately changed due to the uncertain economy however. We where supposed to have started gutting the 3rd floor at the start of Jan. but we are now going to wait another month, reassess and then hopefully proceed from there. Either way we hope to be open for business upstairs for the end of the Summer. I will updated everyone when some progress has been made, and I'll put it on this thread. Hollistreet did you like our new patio last summer?...that was my creation, and it worked out really well, I was very proud of it and I think upstairs will be just as much a success. And once the 3rd floor has been completed I will start making plans for the main floor (dinning room). I already have some big ideas for that floor and in the end it is going to be vastly improved...completely renovated from ceiling to floor. The downstairs pub will remain much the same though, just a new carpet, lighting and a new stereo system...well that's about it...thanks again for for the interest hollistreet!
The new patio was/is great. Very high quality that tied in wonderfully with the heritage building. I thought it was a great use of that space, a modern idea that improved the overall look of the entire area! I so look forward to the third floor and I have to say there is no place I enjoy better on a very cold afternoon than the downstairs.
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Old Posted Jan 31, 2009, 2:45 PM
hfx_chris hfx_chris is offline
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Originally Posted by Barrington south View Post
if anyone is interested in see what the 3rd floor pub will resemble-and what I have used for inspiration, google- "the old English pub homepage" and follow the first website...
Now that is a place I could spend some time in!
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Old Posted Feb 5, 2009, 11:06 AM
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'Parking Gestapo' hurts bars just as much as economy: Owner
PAUL MCLEOD, METRO HALIFAX
February 05, 2009 12:48




Bar baron Victor Syperek says this is the worst winter for business he’s seen in his 14 years in Halifax.


Syperek, who owns downtown bars such as the Economy Shoe Shop, the Seahorse and The Press Gang, says business is down about 10 per cent over last year.


And he’s not just blaming bad economic times. He says snowstorms and an over-zealous “parking Gestapo” enforcing the winter parking ban are killing downtown bars.


“I wouldn’t say it’s the economic downturn, I’d say it’s this idiotic city dealing with snow,” said Syperek.


“I understand snow removal is an important thing, but they go around putting tickets on every car even when there’s no snowplows around. And they forget why they’re clearing the roads; it’s so we can have business downtown. Yet they do their best to discourage it.”


Syperek said other downtown bars are potentially doing much worse than his, but he hopes a busy summer period can make up for lost revenue.
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Old Posted Feb 5, 2009, 3:11 PM
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I'll agree with him on the parking ban! I don't have a driveway at my house, I have to park 2 blocks away and walk home. If for some reason I can't park there, I get a $25 for parking in front of my house when there are no snow plows in sight. If you ask me, they should drop the parking ban, and if someone is ACTUALLY impeding snow removal, then tow their car and increase the fine.

Maybe if we had late night transit people wouldn't be driving to bars in the first place.
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Old Posted Feb 5, 2009, 10:58 PM
hfx_chris hfx_chris is offline
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I'm not trying to cause shit or anything, but just out of curiosity... why would you buy a house without a driveway when you own a car?
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  #17  
Old Posted Feb 6, 2009, 2:31 PM
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Originally Posted by hfx_chris View Post
I'm not trying to cause shit or anything, but just out of curiosity... why would you buy a house without a driveway when you own a car?
I don't own, I rent. Not an ideal situation, I admit, but prior to the parking ban, I was always able to park on the street. During a snow storm, I could always find parking at a neighbour's. Now I'm SOL for parking, but I can't afford to move, so what can you do?
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  #18  
Old Posted Feb 6, 2009, 11:48 PM
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Gotcha.
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  #19  
Old Posted Feb 20, 2009, 12:12 PM
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Durty Nelly's

A class in Restaurant 101
TV cameras follow former SMU Husky as he learns ropes of running a pub
By Our Staff
Fri. Feb 20 - 5:58 AM


Kyle Drake and Joe McGuiness own Durty Nelly’s Irish pub in downtown Halifax. The pub will be featured in the Food Network documentary series called Restaurant 101. (Staff)

Construction workers are not the only ones on site at a soon-to-open authentic Irish pub in downtown Halifax.

Food Network celebrity chef David Adjey and a crew from Restaurant 101 are filming over the next couple of days at Durty Nelly’s on the corner of Sackville and Argyle streets, space formerly occupied by the now-defunct Mercury bar.

The new documentary series, expected to air on the Food Network early next year, is all about first-timers struggling to open a successful restaurant.

"It was chosen because it is a big-budget restaurant and it’s going to look amazing. It is right in the heart of downtown Halifax near the water, and we also chose it because of these great characters," said Heidi Burbela, associate producer for Toronto’s Red Apple Productions.

The characters Ms. Burbela is referring to are unlikely business partners Joe McGuinness, a 45-year-old Irishman and veteran of the food, beverage and hotel industry, and Kyle Drake, a 24-year-old former Saint Mary’s University football player and newcomer to the trade.

The two, who got started on their venture last spring with help from a silent partner, hired Mr. Adjey to be a consultant for Durty Nelly’s, including designing a menu for the new pub and helping get it off the ground.

Mr. Adjey is best known for his part on the popular Food Network show Restaurant Makeover, in which he helps owners turn around struggling restaurants.

While consulting for Durty Nelly’s, Mr. Adjey took on the new Restaurant 101 show.

"It’s amazing how everything just came together," said Mr. McGuinness, who admits the publicity is bound to benefit the pub, which opens its doors Monday.

On Wednesday, staff were cleaning up, and construction workers were putting finishing touches on the pub, designed and created by a crew from Ireland that specializes in building Irish pubs.

Mr. McGuiness says Mr. Adjey has taken Mr. Drake, a business student at SMU, "under his wing," mentoring him on every aspect of the restaurant business.

"A lot of that is going to appear in the show. Just because of my experience, I have taken a step back from the TV side of it and focused on the pre-opening and getting us up and running.

"Eventually, when we are up and running, Kyle and I are going to be steering the ship and guiding Durty Nelly’s to future success, hopefully," he said.

Mr. McGuiness says the publicity generated by the TV show will be also good for the province.

The crew has been in Nova Scotia three times over the last several months filming for the show, which will feature a visit to Grass Roots Heritage Farm in Rawdon and Oulton’s Meats, near Windsor.

Mr. Drake, who says he is learning the industry inside and out, said he doesn’t even notice the cameras.

"I want to do everything. I’m not familiar with a lot of this industry. I’m going to be in the kitchen; I’m going to be washing dishes; I’m going to be scrubbing floors."

He admits that the business venture is somewhat of a risk and that his life has been completely turned upside down since he took on the project. But so far, he has enjoyed every minute of it.

"If it was easy, everyone would do it. It’s been a roller-coaster, ups and downs, anxiety, sleepless nights, all sorts of fun stuff."
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Old Posted Feb 21, 2009, 12:50 AM
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If they are going to open Monday they need to get several floors worth of tarped scaffolding down and away from their entrance before then. Some of the exterior is visible though and it looks sort of hokey -- window bays adorned with faux-chalkboard menu signs with fictitious prices. I still have a very bad feeling about this place.
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