Brewery taprooms pouring in

Something that has been trending in Nova Scotia for a few years now, is the brewery taproom.

Stillwell recently opened a taproom and retail shop at their new brewery at 3670 Kempt Rd. in Halifax. The evolution of the Stillwell brand began on Barrington Street. They also have the Stillwell Freehouse on Agricola and recently opened for the season Beer Garden on Spring Garden Road.

When a producer makes even a small amount of product on-site, it allows them to serve their own product.

There are other taprooms almost ready to go.

Good Robot will soon be opening a location on North Park Street beside the Armouries.

Berwick-based Smokehouse Nano Brewery is also close to opening a taproom in Halifax on Agricola Street in a new building on the corner of May Street.

HRM’S oldest craft brewery Propeller Brewing already has taprooms at their Gottingen Street headquarters and on Quinpool Road. They are building a new taproom at 1225 Bedford Hwy. When complete later this summer, it will have a taproom, patio and even a drive-thru.

Garrison Brewing has long had its waterfront taproom and expanded to Quinpool Road with ‘The Oxford’. Nine Locks opened one on Spring Garden Road and Tusket Falls Brewing opened the Tusket Falls Beer Project on Gottingen last year.

2 Crows has a tasting room in their Brunswick Street brewery as well.

North Brewing moved from Halifax a few years ago to its new brewery, with a full menu, at the edge of Dartmouth on Portland Street. Late last year they also opened another taproom and eatery in Timberlea.

There is also a to-be-named taproom opening on Oxford Street near Cork Street.

Breweries don’t have the market cornered, though, Cider producers like Bulwark have a taproom on Dresden Row and Chain Yard has had a tap room since day one at their Agricola Street home.

I expect this trend to continue.

Here are some more retail happenings:

■ Harnois Énergies is entering the area. Their first local venture is the former Irving on Main Street near the Forest Hills Parkway. Mobil will replace the pumps, and Proxi will replace Circle K. Many Esso and Wilson's gas stations will become Proxi stores.

■ Sushi spot Zen House is now open on Brenton Street where Primal most recently was.

■ Caissie Pizza is replacing Spicebox on the Bedford Highway beside Bridgeview Grocery, which recently changed ownership.

■ Meltwich, which offers grilled cheese and french fries creations, looks ready to open this week on Spring Garden Road near Dresden Row. They also have one coming to Ella Lane in Bedford off Larry Uteck Boulevard.

■ Catching up on some loose ends. Pet store Into The Wild pet store on Main Street has closed. Huole which used to be on Spring Garden, now operates out of M&Y Grocery on Quinpool Road as a takeout. Scotiabank is opening a location on Larry Uteck Boulevard at Broad Street.

■ The former Pizza Town on Washmill Drive will reopen, as Virani’s Pizza. I am not sure if they are going to use the same model of build your pizza.

■ Daily Grind is opening a second location at 2155 Gottingen beside Ratinaud. And their ice cream shop Sugar Fix is also returning to Spring Garden between Jennifer’s and Foreign Affair.

■ After almost 70 years, Digby's famous Ed’s Take Out is confirmed to be expanding to HRM. Location to be revealed later.

■ Walter’s Snack Bar is now open on Barrington beside 2 Doors Down.

■ Children’s shop, Flower Child has closed their physical storefront on Prince Street but remains online.

■ Budapest Bisztro on Washmill Drive has permanently closed.

■ The former Halifax Bed Bath & Beyond in Chain Lake will become Toys R Us/babies R Us later this summer.