Coastal Cafe blames HRM planning for its closure

SHOPTALK

Coastal Cafe blames HRM planning for its closure

Mark Giffin is not looking for a pity parade. Even as the owner and chef behind The Coastal Cafe prepares for his last service in just a few weeks, the building he’s fried thousands of eggs and poured several more thousands of coffees in over 16 years soon to be sold to the HRM to pave the way for an expanded bus corridor, he’s not interested in soliciting anyone’s sympathy.

“I’m just some schmo who cooks,” he tells The Coast, sitting at a table after another day in the kitchen. “But people really love the food.”

Last week, Giffin announced on his popular north end brunch haunt’s Facebook page that his business would be serving its final customers on May 28, 2023. His landlord, Sackville-based Murex Realty, let him know in December that Halifax would be “expropriating” the Robie Street property halfway between May and Almon streets. After more than two years of financial hardship prompted by COVID-19 pandemic measures, and the city’s removal of street parking for a dedicated bus lane in 2020, he says it’s a bridge too far for his small business. There’s no money left in the till.

“I’m walking out of here after 16 years, financially, with nothing but crushing debt,” he tells The Coast.

And while the HRM has plans for an expanded bus corridor along Robie Street, Giffin says he’s yet to hear directly from anyone at City Hall.

Read more of Coast reporter Martin Bauman’s interview with Griffin.

Need to know

🌧 Today's weather: Partly cloudy with a 60% chance of showers. A high of 15C and a low of 2C.

🦠 The World Health Organization has officially declared that COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency.

🚨 Are you ready for an emergency? May 7-13 is Emergency Preparedness Week. Find out how to be prepared and enter the municipality’s Emergency Management Office emergency preparedness contest online!*

🚧 Broad Street from Larry Uteck Boulevard to Gary Martin Drive will be closed starting today at 7am until July 8 at 6pm.

🚧 Bilby Street from Isleville to Gottingen Streets will be closed until May 9 at 7pm.

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY NEPTUNE THEATRE

Rave reviews for Neptune Theatre’s Billy Elliot The Musical

"OMG what a brilliant show! Everyone should see this. Such talent in this amazing cast. One of the best shows I've seen. Well worth the wait." – LH, post show survey.

Set in a northern English mining town against the background of the 1984 miners’ strike, Billy Elliot is the inspirational story of a young boy’s struggle against the odds to make his dream come true. Follow Billy’s journey as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class, where he discovers a passion for dance that inspires his family and community... and changes his life forever.

Featuring a beautiful score by music legend Sir Elton John, Billy Elliot is a spectacular show with heart, humour, and passion.

On The Coast

SPONSORED BY TERRA BRUCE PRODUCTIONS

Tickets are on sale now for Let’s Dance! The Musical

Let’s Dance! The Musical from Terra Bruce Productions celebrates the greatest pop songs of the early 1960’s. At Neptune Theatre’s Fountain Hall, Jul. 27-30.

One-day Mother’s Day sale! Buy tickets to Let’s Dance! The Musical on Sunday, May 14 and get your tickets to the show on Friday, July 28 at 50% off! Promo code: LETSDANCEMOMS.

For tickets and more info go to Let’sDanceTheMusical.com.

In other news

🚨 Three people are facing charges after a Pride flag was burned at Upper Tantallon’s Bay View High School.

🧠 A new partnership between Nova Scotia Health’s psychiatry department and Dalhousie is working to help Nova Scotians access mental health treatment faster.

🗣 Haligonian Michel Babineau shared his homelessness journey with Global News.

⛺️ A Toronto law firm has been hired to review the Halifax Regional Police’s response to the homeless camp evictions that took place in the city two years ago.

💵 The province is investing $2.1 million into upgrades for the Hector Heritage Quay Interpretive Centre.

📺 Mattea Roach will be returning to our screens tonight for the premier of the new series Jeopardy! Masters.

🚷 CTV spoke with pedestrian safety advocate, Martyn Williams, about the rising number of crosswalk collisions in Halifax.

❤️ A ceremony was held this past Sunday at Point Pleasant Park to remember the Canadian Navy ships lost during the Battle of the Atlantic.

AWARDS SZN

Halifax wins big at the 2023 East Coast Music Awards

There's never been a shortage of proof that Halifax is a music city. It's pouring out of the front door of Gus' Pub seven nights a week, bubbling up from the basement of the Seahorse every weekend, spilling out onto Argyle Street thanks to The Carleton—and that's all in a roughly 20-minute walk around the central peninsula. But if you ever wanted some big guns to back up an argument that this city has one of the strongest sonic scenes around, the East Coast Music Awards came through with receipts at last week’s ceremony.

The first of two awards shows that are part of this year's festival skewed heavily Haligonian when it came to announcing who the winners are.

Here’s a recap of who took home what.

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