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Best Antiques Store
on November 7, 2019 at 1:00AM
Gold Winner The ReFound Shop
Silver Winner Holy Roller Vintage
Bronze Winner Finer Things Antiques & Curios
If you’ve wanted to explore the world of estate sales but aren’t willing to put in the work, The ReFound Shop might just be your jam. The wee Dartmouth purveyor of furniture and home accessories looking to be revamped, reimagined or rediscovered comes courtesy of Mike McKenna, who’s gathered a gang of sellers, all of whom bring something different to the table. “Everybody has their own niche and speciality and...it’s a blast,” he says. “I think it’s hugely important right now because we are in a consumer society and a bit of a throw-away society. We want to make sure as little as possible ends up in landfills and we love that there’s a good push for young people to buy vintage or older items to repurpose.” -
Best Barber
on November 7, 2019 at 1:00AM
Gold Winner Robyn Ingraham, Sailor Bup's Barbershop
Silver Winner Phat Luong, Phat's Barber Shop
Bronze Winner Jeremy Naugler, Oddfellows Barbershop
“I guess what I’ve been working towards with my career is giving people an experience more than service—making them comfortable, training myself with new ways to do haircuts so they grow out properly so they don’t need to come back the week after,” Robyn Ingraham says. “People come back and thank me and tell me that their hair works with life.” Having spent most of 2019 training in global hair trends with barbers from Holland, Brazil and more, Ingraham has made herself a student of her trade—and it’s paid off: “All I wanna do is go to work, do my job and help people out. I didn’t know people were watching me grow.” -
Best Barbershop
on November 7, 2019 at 1:00AM
Gold Winner Phat's Barber Shop
Silver Winner Sailor Bup's Barbershop, downtown
Bronze Winner Oddfellows Barbershop
On Saturday mornings, the lineup at Phat’s Barber Shop often spills out the door. Amid the rise in beard-butter-bro-barbers, Phat’s has managed to keep things simple. Each evening the place gets swept, sometimes a day’s work catches the wind and floats its way down Windsor Street. A hand-written note in orange marker in the window announces a vacation and people turn on their heels, but not before making a note of when Phat says he’ll be back. Often, a lamp by the mirror is left on overnight, allowing neighbours to peer in and see that sometimes, the day’s last task was left for tomorrow. -
Best Bike Store
on November 7, 2019 at 1:00AM
Gold Winner Cyclesmith
Silver Winner The Bike Pedaler
Bronze Winner Sportwheels
This year, Halifax regional council moved forward on its promises for more bike lanes in the city. “It’s pretty cool,” says Cyclesmith owner Andrew Feenstra, “that the city is starting to think a little bit more progressive with alternate forms of transportation.” Plus, there’s continued work on the city’s BLT Rails to Trails network—which Feenstra calls the “gateway to cycling.” For him, the best thing about cycling is the sense of freedom it gives. “Freedom from whatever you need. Freedom from work or freedom from the cellphone or computer. When you’re riding a bike, it’s just this sense of freedom you get.” -
Best Car Dealership
on November 7, 2019 at 1:00AM
Gold Winner Portland Street Honda
Silver Winner O'Regan's Toyota, Halifax
Bronze Winner Colonial Honda
It wouldn’t be surprising if Portland Street Honda gave the Best Mall nominees a run for their money in 2020. Your gold-winning dealership has truly become a one-stop shop in the past few years, adding a full-service salon, a bistro, two lounge areas and Starbucks coffee into your car-buying experience. “I could talk forever about the vehicles, but what makes us stand out is the focus is on customer service,” says Stefano Andriani, Portland Street Honda’s marketing manager. “We have great products, but we’re so confident in our products that what can we do as a dealership is something that’s different.” Shine on, you crazy diamond. -
Best Comics Store
on November 7, 2019 at 1:00AM
Gold Winner Cape & Cowl Comics & Collectibles
Silver Winner Giant Robot Comics
Bronze Winner Monster Comic Lounge
Hall of fame Strange Adventures, Halifax
When Jay Aaron Roy opened Cape & Cowl Comics & Collectibles, he knew he wanted it to be much more than just another comics store. Five years later, the shop has grown and fully earned its place among the many must-visit geeky spots in HRM. “I barely had a couple action figures to hang on the wall behind me in 2014,” recalls Roy, “and now you could spend hours in the shop and look in every corner, and you would still miss stuff.” Although Cape & Cowl is set to move into a new location in November, you can expect some special pop-up markets in the original spot. -
Best Corner Store
on November 7, 2019 at 1:00AM
Gold Winner Atlantic News
Silver Winner Jubilee Junction
Bronze Winner Triple A Convenience and Pizzeria
Atlantic News, categorically, is a corner store. But it’s also much more than that. Owner Michele Gerard feels the appeal of the 46-year-old shop is due in large part to its staff: Customers feel welcomed. “Because we are a neighbourhood store, we really see regulars over and over and over again,” says Gerard. “We care. And I think that’s what makes part of the difference—we really do care.” Another part of it, perhaps, is that Atlantic News has just about every magazine under the sun. Maisonneuve? Yep. -
Best Craft Show
on November 7, 2019 at 1:00AM
Gold Winner Christmas At The Forum
Silver Winner Dartmouth Makers
Bronze Winner Halifax Crafters
Grinches beware. Introverts, steer clear. This massive Christmas market allows Haligonians to get their holiday shopping done ahead of time, avoiding a wild dash through the mall on December 23. Boasting three days of more than 325 exhibitors—crafts, antiques, art and food—as well as an opportunity for kids to meet Santa Claus, Christmas At The Forum is enough to make anyone’s heart grow a good three sizes. Be prepared for a crowd, however: An estimated 25,000 people attend each year. -
Best Dog Groomer
on November 7, 2019 at 1:00AM
Gold Winner Dapper Dogs
Silver Winner Jollytails, Lady Hammond
Bronze Winner Prim & Pupper
Jennifer Keddy has always been an animal person. She loved horses and dogs long before working at a doggy daycare, as a bather for another dog groomer and then eventually opening her own pup salon, Dapper Dogs. “My staff, majorly,” Keddy says of the reason behind her second win in a row. “It wouldn’t be possible to be this successful with out my staff.” For Keddy and her crew, building rock-solid relationships is the name of the game. And offering a cage-free environment for her fuzzy clients doesn’t hurt either. “Our goal is just make it as pleasant as possible.” -
Best Esthetician
on November 7, 2019 at 1:00AM
Gold Winner Stacy Landry, Adorn Salon & Spa
Silver Winner Natalie MacDonald, Blair Beauty Bar
Bronze Winner Kayla Deveau, Beauty By Kayla Deveau
“It doesn’t feel like a job to me. I love what I do. I specialize in waxing, I specialize in eyebrows,” Stacy Landry, a master esthetician, says. “I’m obsessed with wax. I start by asking what my client wants. I wax and tweeze and colour them in. I love giving that extra little service because my clients leave happy and their brows look good.” After making a pact with her best friend Amanda Merritt in junior high to open a salon, the two made good on their word, opening Adorn Salon & Spa in 2018—proving Audrey Hepburn right that happy girls are indeed the prettiest (or at least have the best brows).
