Construction Forces Sale of Landmark Downtown Bar

The owner of landmark bar in downtown Halifax has sold the business after he says downtown construction caused him to lose millions of dollars. Vincent Syperek, owner of the Economy Shoe Shop on Argyle Street, tells CBC that years of construction at the Nova Centre was killing his business. The City of Halifax also just announced that the patio season on Argyle Street would be cancelled as the city plans to remodel the streetscape. Syperek says he couldn’t afford to hold on to the business. Another downtown restaurant is already asking the city for a half-million dollars in compensation and a number of business owners have threatened the city with a class action lawsuit over lost revenue.