Work is underway at a North End Halifax home to create a unique new business which will be the first of its kind in Nova Scotia.
The small bungalow will eventually be home to Blue Harbour Cheese, an urban cheese plant.
“It’s my passion,” says business owner Lyndell Findlay. “No one else is making traditional blue cheese in Nova Scotia, so there was a niche market.”
Findlay has visited all of the cheese makers in the province. She says she didn’t want to compete with them, and Halifax is a unique location for a cheese plant.
“There are no other urban cheese plants in Nova Scotia that I’m aware of, so I’d be the first,” she says. “I’m not a farmer and didn’t want to have a farm.”
Another new business is being set up across the street that should be a perfect match for the cheese plant – a wine-making store.
Tim Feeley is relocating the Maritime Wine and Beer Emporium from the Hydrostone area. He says thanks to new changes in the law, wine can be made at the new address.
"We've been in business for 14 years, across from the Hydrostone Market, and we just ran out of space," says Feeley.
Cousins Restaurant, a north end fixture for the past 49 years, is located nearby. Owner Peter Kanellakos is looking forward to the arrival of his new neighbours.
“I told them, you know, you have an opening to bring the cheese and the wine and we make a party here,” he laughs.
“It’s going to attract a lot of business to the Halifax North End. It’s going to be good for my business anyway.”
Feeley intends to open the wine store this weekend, while Findlay expects the first Blue Harbour Cheese products will be available in the fall.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Rick Grant
