A martini and wine bar may seem better suited for a larger city, however, a Glace Bay, N.S. woman says her hometown is the perfect spot for her new entrepreneurial venture.

“Why not Glace Bay? There's so much to build on,” says entrepreneur Angela Houston.

Houston says she's been dreaming of becoming an entrepreneur for years. This summer, she and her husband bought a building on Glace Bay’s Commercial Street.

“There was a strong emotional connection to my hometown and I thought what a great opportunity, this is something I absolutely have to go for,” says Houston.

According to Houston, the potential reopening of the Donkin Mine has revitalized the local economy.

She took a leave of absence from her job with the Nova Scotia Government to build the business.

“Part of the inspiration for allowing us to do this was the Ivany Commission Report, which of course calls for more entrepreneurship in rural and small communities in Nova Scotia to help grow our economy,” says Houston.

Construction began on the space in October and the martini and wine bar opened earlier this month. Houston says she's been putting in 16-hour days since then, but says it's a labour of love.

Her husband is still working in Halifax and Houston says it's been difficult for them to be apart.

“He tries to get down from Halifax on weekends and he's using all of his vacation time to spend here,” says Houston.

Houston's background in management has made her transition to business owner easier. She says she has surrounded herself with knowledgeable people, like manager Carrie Campbell.

“To have this type of business in Glace Bay, we actually filled a void and created a niche for residents of Glace Bay, but also for foodies,” says Campbell.

Campbell has been working in the hospitality industry for about 16 years. She spent some time in Halifax before coming home to Cape Breton.

“I don't think Cape Breton can survive without people like Angela putting in the money and the effort to bring business back home,” says Campbell.

“It's incredibly scary, the money and time invested, but over the past two weeks I've reaffirmed my instinct that this is an incredibly rewarding career path,” says Houston.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Sarah Ritchie