Stillwell Bar to resurrect beer garden on Halifax's Spring Garden Road
Business owners banking on pedestrian traffic and condo owners to make business boom
Stillwell Bar's dreams of a beer garden in Halifax aren't dead yet. In just a few week's time, they'll be moving into a space on one of the city's busiest streets.
The company's owners, who operate a permanent location on Barrington Street, had to shut down their waterfront beer garden after another pub — The Stubborn Goat — won the tender to take over the space.
Co-owner Chris Reynolds said they're aiming for a June 1 opening on the corner of Spring Garden Road and South Park Street — sandwiched between Eastlink and Bookmark.
"It will have picnic tables and lots of lighting and plants," said co-owner Chris Reynolds. "There's going to be our shipping container which is a draught beer delivery mechanism and a little kitchen."
After Stillwell lost the waterfront contract, they had been considering other locations including a vacant lot on North Park street directly across from the Emera Oval.
'Until the weather tells us to stop'
The beer garden would be located near several new large condo developments.
"Construction began about a week ago so we should be up and running by June and we'll run until the weather tells us to stop," said Reynolds.
"It's pretty well sheltered there so we could see a longer shoulder season than we had on the breezier waterfront."
A sign on the fence surrounding the job site asks for comments or objections to be submitted to the Alcohol and Gaming Division by May 10.
According to Tracy Barron, with Service Nova Scotia's Alcohol and Gaming Division, the concerns of citizens are taken into account. However, in terms of obtaining a liquor licence, she said her department is really only concerned that alcohol is consumed in a safe and legal manner.
'It's a great size'
Barbecue, baked goods and coffee will be for sale. The tiny Steve-o-Reno's drive-thru building, which used to be outside the former Robie Street Rona, will be resurrected on the site.
It will be turned into a dairy bar.
"This one has won out because it's a great shape, it's a great size," said Reynolds.
"We really like what we think will happen when we put the beer garden in that location because it's very urban, it's a different vibe from the waterfront for sure."