The Chronicle Herald (Provincial)
Glen Haven cafe set to open
This week will see the arrival of Labour Day Picnic inside Paul's Hall on Highway 333 in Glen Haven.
Labour Day Picnic is a cafe run by co-owner Gabe Wallot-beale, but is also home to two other businesses; Lure Caramel Co. run by his wife Kate Melvin, and Bonnie Bonnie Supper Company, run by Kate's sister Leah Moon.
Paul's Hall is owned by Wallot-beale's family and has been used by his father Tobias as a music and performance space. The building was originally located in Seabright.
“In the '50s, the hall was moved on a flatbed down the road to Glen Haven and placed on land donated by a local family. In the years since it has been used as a community space for many events, one being the Labour Day Picnic,” says Melvin.
She said when the hall changed hands it had a lot of the original fixtures and items still in place, and one such item was “a massive hand painted Labour Day Picnic sign. It was too perfect of a name to not utilize.”
Labour Day Picnic is the cafe “with a small retail section, great food and coffee and, eventually, space for local events and live music once again,” says Melvin.
Her Lure Caramel Co. has been there for two years, and now has a direct retail space. They have been selling at retailers across the province.
Moon's Bonnie Bonnie Supper Company provides the food for the cafe and is a bespoke catering company with its own line of products like sauces and take-home meals. They also provide catering for events and dinner parties “when that is once again permitted,” says Melvin.
A recent sneak peek Instagram post of sausage rolls with chili-ginger ketchup provided a peek at what sort of goodies are ahead.
While 2020 delayed their plans with dates being pushed and pushed again, they admit it gave them time to think things over more and get them perfect.
In the meantime, “we are treating the next few weeks as a soft opening. We'll have a reduced menu and focus on just giving people the option to grab a quick snack or lunch to go while they are in the area,” Melvin said. “We have such a fantastic and supportive community out here in St. Margarets Bay and we are just really excited to be a place where folks feel welcome to come and hang out, have a coffee or a bite to eat.”
They are planning to open Wednesday and you can find them at 12286 Hwy. 333 (Peggy's Cove Road).
Here are some more retail highlights and happenings:
• European sports retailer Decathlon has opened its new store at Mic Mac Mall. They had opened a small pop up earlier this year, and now have moved to their new permanent 30,000-plus square foot store on the second level.
• Seventy3 on Alderney Drive in downtown Dartmouth announced its permanent closure. Sister establishment Celtic Corner remains open next door.
• Old No. 7 Restaurant & Sports Bar is soon opening in the strip mall in Jeddore that has previously been home to Captain Todd's and Marcus & Willy's.
• BOSS Supplements has opened in Dartmouth Crossing. This is the latest location for the chain, which also has stores in Ontario and New Brunswick.
• Honey & Ginger has completed a move from the Bedford Highway to the Larry Uteck Area, by Mcdonald's. They also have another healthy living shop on Baker Drive in Dartmouth.
• The folks from On the Wedge are launching a traditional Nova Scotia bakery called Sugar & Crumb in Sunnyside Mall in the former Newfoundland Chocolate space.
• Bubble tea chain Chatime opened its newest location Farnham Gate Road at the corner of Dunbrack Street, in the strip mall. They also have locations on Barrington and Brenton streets.
• Thornhill Pizza on Herring Cove Rd. has temporarily closed, but when it reopens it will be a hybrid Thornhill Pizza and a new outlet for Charger Burger.
• The new Shell and Needs in Eastern Passage opened on Friday. The A&W, which is part of the project, will open around March.
• Pumpkin Village, which traditionally sets up a shop in Dartmouth Crossing, is just staying put at Fisherman's Cove in Eastern Passage.
• Another Alexandra's Pizza is opening, this time at 1465 St. Margarets Bay Rd. in Lakeside.