Beautiful thinking behind Eunoia Lifestyle Shop
Cathy Akinkunmi noticed a shortage of visible minority women in business as role models.
“I wanted to be able to inspire BIPOC women to dream big and go for it,” says Akinkunmi.
With that in mind, she has opened Eunoia Lifestyle Shop Inc. at 5659 Almon St. in north-end Halifax.
The shop’s philosophy is billed as offering “thoughtfully curated products that are mainly ethically sourced, fair trade and sometimes by visible minority womenowned makers and wholesalers.”
The word eunoia is ancient Greek for “well mind” or “beautiful thinking,” and the store carries home decor, giftware, stationery, kids items, clothing and accessories, partyware and more.
Offerings include Nova Scotia-made paper goods and woodwork; items from women in market stalls in Uganda making upcycled jewellery and accessories; and baskets made by mothers in northern Ghana using traditional techniques.
The shop will also offer a DIY balloon bar where you can create garlands from biodegradable balloons.
“Our shop is not only a thoughtfully curated shop,” Akinkunmi says.
“It is also a place to meet your local creatives and learn about their passion for their skills and snag a free sample in the process.”
There are also opportunities to enroll in one of the workshops offered online and in the store.
But why open now?
“I guess I have an entrepreneur spirit, growing up helping my mom run her shop at a fairly early age,” says Akinkunmi.
“Over 20 years later, it seems the moment for opening this shop was right.”
Akinkunmi has an education background in IT with an MBA, and she also runs party and wedding planning shop Beautiful Celebrations.
You can find Eunoia open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., or anytime at eunoialifestyle.ca.
Here are other retail highlights and happenings:
• The Dartmouth location of zero-waste store The Tare Shop has opened at 21 Portland St. The original store is on Cornwallis Street in Halifax.
• Coach New York is closing its retail location in Halifax Shopping Centre on Jan. 23.
• Teaghlach Ross Distillery is open at 28 Powder Mill Rd. in Waverley, next to the firefighters school, with an initial offering of Wooden Shoes Gin, Skiver Rhum and Sea Witch Vodka.
• The A&W on Pleasant Street in Dartmouth closed at the end of the year.
• Sidekick Cafe is set to open soon at the corner of Agricola and Bilby streets in Halifax.
• Korean spot Let’s Ko has returned, opening on Damascus Road in Bedford Common. Sushi has been added to the menu.
• Red Satay, which offers Vietnamese cuisine in Moncton, opened a location on Hollis Street in Halifax, between Morris and South.
• On Vernon Street, about halfway between Quinpool and Jubilee roads, is Munchies, part regular convenience store, part international snacks and drinks.
• Famous Curry Garden will be opening on Charles Street, just off Agricola, in the space that most recently housed Water & Bone.
• Halisi Café has opened in Middle Sackville, “offering organic, natural and environmentally conscious food and beverages.” You can find them at 1710 Sackville Dr.