showing 1 to 10 of 45
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Best Antiques Store
on November 1, 2018 at 1:00AM
Gold Winner ReFound Shop
Silver Winner Plan B Merchants’ Co-op (now closed)
Bronze Winner Urban Cottage Antiques & Collectibles
The search for a second-hand gem is much like a treasure hunt, whether it be patiently sifting through the digital depths of Kijiji or strolling the endless aisles at Value Village. ReFound Shop, a destination for for hand-picked antique and vintage household items, makes that quest for the perfect antique item much more accessible. Originally an estate and liquidation company, ReFound Shop has morphed into a group shop, says owner Mike McKenna. Business has grown exponentially this year since the shop has welcomed new vendors under their roof, he says, “They all have their own little space.”
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Best Barber
on November 1, 2018 at 1:00AM
Gold Winner Phat Luong, Phat's Barbershop
Silver Winner Jeremy Naugler, Oddfellows Barbershop
Bronze Winner Ashley Hawkes, Lucky Cat Barbershop
Try to avoid a conversation once you walk into Phat Luong’s barbershop. You’re in for a fight if you don’t like talking. Luong dances a fine line between hairstylist, stand-up comic, therapist and life coach. His easygoing demeanour and non-stop banter turns a simple haircut into an experience. The self-described “bullshit barber” makes everyone a regular, even if it’s their first time. This repeat gold for being Halifax’s Best Barber certainly isn’t his first win. This is his sixth first-place finish and seventh time on the podium since 2010.
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Best Bike Store
on November 1, 2018 at 1:00AM
Gold Winner Cyclesmith
Silver Winner The Bike Pedaler
Bronze Winner Halifax Cycle
Some things you never forget: how to ride a bike is one of them, and according to voters, your most dependable bike store is another. Andrew Feenstra, owner of Cyclesmith, attributes the store’s longtime winning streak to the business making thoughtful choices. “Whether it’s selling the right bike to the right customer, or repairing the bike the way it’s supposed to be, or the customer service,” he muses. “There are just so many facets to a certain point, but it’s always about doing the right thing.”
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Best Car Dealership
on November 1, 2018 at 1:00AM
Gold Winner Portland Street Honda
Silver Winner Hillcrest Volkswagen
Bronze Winner Colonial Honda
Despite being surrounded by three other dealerships, Portland Street Honda stands out as unique. In effort to do so, it’s making serious waves. Portland Street Honda has just opened a brand-new spa to their customers, which will offer everything from manicures to Botox. You can add this to the list of other bougie stuff at the dealership, like their giant lounge area and bistro. “We’re not worried about the Hondas, we’re proud of those. So for us, it’s how can we go above and beyond?,” explains Stefano Andriani, marketing manager at the dealership. Discuss the price of your new whip over a haircut, or eat a scrumptious meal while waiting for your oil to get changed? Sold.
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Best Barbershop
on November 1, 2018 at 1:00AM
Gold Winner Phat's Barbershop
Silver Winner Sailor Bup's Barbershop, downtown
Bronze Winner Lucky Cat Barbershop
Even with the rise of trendy old-school barber shops, the kind that wrings together straight-razor nostalgia with iPad payment options, it’s Phat Luong who once again reigns supreme over Halifax’s clipper competition. There’s nothing inauthentic about Phat’s Barbershop on Windsor Street. An establishment in the true sense of the word, this community staple has kept its cash-only clientele coming back for award-winning service decade after decade. There’s no bullshit here; just satisfied customers. Be prepared for a lineup.
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Best Comics Store
on November 1, 2018 at 1:00AM
Gold Winner Strange Adventures, Dartmouth
Silver Winner Cape and Cowl Comics and Collectibles
Bronze Winner Giant Robot Comics
The folks at Strange Adventures refer to the Dartmouth location as a sidekick, or as owner Cal Johnston likes to say, “the plucky younger sibling” to Strange Adventures Halifax, which was inducted into the Hall of Fame last year. When Johnston opened a location on the
darkside , he wanted the store to have its own feel, kind of like what a comic store felt like in the ’70s, he says of the shop, which takes home its first win this year. “We kind of play our Dartmouth spot off as our bargain basement, because we tend to deal more with the vintage stuff, like second hand comics, lots of cheap stuff and second hand toys.” -
Best Computer Store
on November 1, 2018 at 1:00AM
Gold Winner The Apple Store
Silver Winner Mac East
Bronze Winner MysteryByte Computers
Anyone who owns an Apple product knows the horror of when their dependable machine stops working. Whether you get too many cookie crumbs in your keyboard or dropped your laptop on its face, the Apple Store has a way of swooping in to save the day. Book your appointment at the Genius Bar online or roll up to the store in shambles and sweatpants and you’ll usually leave feeling at least a smidge better.
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Best Corner Store
on November 1, 2018 at 1:00AM
Gold Winner Atlantic News
Silver Winner Jubilee Junction
Bronze Winner Triple A Convenience and Pizzeria
Atlantic News might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of corner stores in Halifax, however it is a store on a corner and it sells a surprisingly huge variety of convenient goods. While magazines are its main thing, Atlantic News also has eggs, coffee, stamps, toilet paper, imported candy, 40-cent licorice and wayyyy more. Co-owner Michele Gerard says “there literally is something for everyone.” She likes to think of Atlantic News as the “mini-but-mighty” neighbourhood corner store.
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Best Craft Show
on November 1, 2018 at 1:00AM
Gold Winner Christmas at the Forum
Silver Winner Halifax Crafters Society Winter Market
Bronze Winner The Dartmouth Makers
Just like it’s never too early to start blasting Michael Buble’s Christmas album; the time is always right for perusing holiday crafts, hot cocoa in hand. That’s where Christmas at the Forum comes in! It’s the longest-running holiday craft event on the east coast, which features over 200 exhibitors across three jubilant days at the Halifax Forum. From sweet treats to festive gifts to ornaments to Santa’s lap, Christmas at the Forum has it all. Look no further for Christmas in November.
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Best Dog Groomer
on November 1, 2018 at 1:00AM
Gold Winner Dapper Dogs
Silver Winner Jollytails Inc.
Bronze Winner Adorable Dogs Grooming Spa
Let’s be honest, one of the best parts of having a dog is looking at it. Why have a dog if not to appreciate how freakin’ cute it is? Luckily groomers like Dapper Dogs help our pups look their best. This is a first time gold win for Jennifer Keddy, owner of the Bedford grooming shop. As you can probably guess, her favourite part of the job is being around animals. “We’re very lucky to be able to do that...just help them look and feel their best,” she says.
