Halifax bar sold as a result of downtown construction

HALIFAX – A well known Halifax bar has been sold, and the former owner is blaming the construction in Halifax’s downtown, notably the Nova Centre.

“Well I mean obviously if your business total drops a couple of million dollars in four years,” he said. “It affects everything, you end up laying all your staff off and having trouble meeting bills, and rent and all that stuff.”

Victor Syperek opened the bar 22 years ago on Argyle street, and has become a busy spot in the downtown core.

He says the Nova Centre has brought noise, dust, fewer parking spots, resulting in many people avoiding that area of town.

With the announcement last week there was going to be a streets-cape project this summer that will make renovations to aiming to make Argyle street more pedestrian friendly, he says that comes at a bad time.

“It got to the point where the shoe shop starting losing to much money and the death knell was finding out that there’s no patios this year,” he said. “Because you hope for a little bit of a summer salvation that might get us [the restaurant] into the fall.”

In a Facebook post, he thanked customers, and said – “It’s the economic situation downtown. I can’t thrash out another 2 years.”

This isn’t the end of Syperek in the bar scene for he also owns The Local, Seahorse and Marquee, all on Gottigen St.

“Because once all the condominiums and apartments and even the Nova Centre once they’re all finished,” he said. “I’d say three or four years there’ll be thousand of people living downtown who will be looking for bars and restaurants and entertainment. The downtown will flourish again, I just won’t be part of it.”

The Economy Shoe Shop has been bought by neighbouring bar, the Toothy Moose.