Spring is in the air and we all scream for ice cream! Scoop shops are opening across Atlantic Canada as we say goodbye to businesses who couldn’t make it through the winter.

What’s Open

Garden Grove Cafe | Rothesay, N.B.
This Instagrammable cafe didn’t make the February list, but it opened at the end of the month. Garden Grove Cafe serves up espresso drinks and tea along with local beer, cider and glasses of prosecco to pair with pastries, sandwiches, cakes and sweets at 2 Grove Avenue.

Next Level Games and Collectibles | Summerside, P.E.I.
When Game On! closed last December, Sebastian Bilodeau saw a hole in the local gaming community that needed to be filled. He opened Next Level Games and Collectibles at 251 Water Street on March 3, which now hosts Magic the Gathering nights and video game competitions.

Kitchen Door Catering | Dartmouth, N.S.
While this catering company has been operating out of their Bedford kitchen for more than 10 years, on March 4 Kitchen Door Catering opened their new food shop and cafe at 110 Higney Avenue. In addition to their much-loved catering services, Kitchen Door is also offering cooking classes at The Studio at their new location which can also be rented out for events.

Soho Beauty Bar | Dieppe, NB
This new beauty salon opened on March 5 at 73 Rufin Street. Soho Beauty Bar offers up hair and aesthetics services along with hair and beauty products.

Tic Tac Go | Dartmouth, N.S.
Downtown Dartmouth is now home to an escape room. Tic Tac Go opened at 31 Queen Street on March 7 offering up a train heist-themed escape room challenge suitable for all ages.

Creamy Rainbow Bakery and Cafe | Halifax, N.S.
This Chinese bakery opened at 1526 Dresden Row on March 17. Creamy Rainbow offers up espresso drinks along with sweet treats like green tea and black sesame cream puffs and savoury buns filled with cream cheese and crab.

The Parlour | St. John’s, N.L.
St. John’s has a new gelato shop near Bannerman Park. The Parlour, which features housemade gelato, fresh coffee and waffles, was opened at 85 Military Road March 20 by owners Laura Bloomquist and Gary Long.

Alex’s Ice Cream | Summerside, P.E.I.
The streetside cottage that housed Jo Mamma’s Coffee Hut in Summerside, P.E.I. has been flipped into a dairy bar. Alex’s Ice Cream opened March 27 at 507 Grandville Street with a complete remodel of the building and offers up dairy bar staples like soft serve, milkshakes and sundaes.

The Shake Shed Freddy | Fredericton, N.B
The latest sweet shop opened in Fredericton on March 30. The Shake Shed Freddy offers up Instagram-worthy milkshakes like Hella Nutella and Ode to Oreo.

What’s Shut

Fixed Coffee and Baking | St. John’s, N.L.
In a heartfelt letter distributed on social media channels, owner Jon Howse announced the closure of Fixed Coffee and Baking after seven years of operation at 183 Duckworth Street — and a second location which opened and closed within that time on Harvey Road. The popular coffee shop closed March 10.

Rumpelstiltskins Restaurant | St. John’s, N.L.
After more than 20 years, this popular restaurant closed abruptly on March 11. The staff of Rumpelstiltskin’s Restaurant at 2 Hill O’ Chips were let go with less than a week notice.

The Block | St. John’s, N.L.
After opening the doors of The Block six months ago, owners of the first and only women’s coworking space is closed. In a Facebook post on March 17, owner Melanie Crocker stated engagement from the community has been too low for her to continue the business. Crocker plans to refocus energy on the company she owns right next door at 562 Water Street, Ruby Rose Beauty Bar.

Tom’s Little Havana | Halifax, N.S.
Tom’s Little Havana closed March 27 after more than 20 years of serving up food and drink. In 2015, the bar moved from its much-loved hole in the wall at 5428 Doyle Street to 1540 Birmingham Street after their building was demolished. It will be replaced with Sura Lounge, adjacent to its partner restaurant Rasa.

Open Sky Adeventures Inc. | Grand Falls, N.B.
This adventure company announced on March 29 they will not be reopening for the season. Open Sky Adventures posted the closure on their Facebook page, thanking clients for their support over the years.

King Pakal | Marysville, N.B.
A popular Mexican takeout located in The Ville Cooperative at 241 Canada Street closed on March 30. King Pakal owner Hugo León de Gante says he closed up shop to focus on his new cannabis business, Lady Jane Cannabis Ltd.

Home Hardware | Truro, N.S.
After more than half a century, the hardware store at 45 Willow Street in Truro is closed. The store was first opened in 1938 and was also the area’s first Canadian Tire until 1973 when it was converted by Les Mosher — who has worked at the store since he was 12 — to Truro’s first Home Hardware. The building has been sold and the shop closed on March 31.

Kitchen Queen | St. John’s, N.L.
Another downtown shop is closing its doors in St. John’s. After 48 years in business, Kitchen Queen China shop, which has supplied Newfoundland and Labrador with fine china, dinnerware and gifts closed its doors at 176 Water Street on March 31.

First Angel Network | Halifax, N.S.
Halifax-based First Angel Network, the company who trailblazed angel investing in Atlantic Canada, ceased operations March 31 at 1883 Upper Water Street. Co-owned by Brian Lowe and Ross Finlay, the not-for-profit has been supporting early-stage tech startups since 2005, funding first investments of startups like Immunovaccine Technologies and Spring Loaded Technology which have seen great success in recent years.

Did we miss something? Know of a business opening or closing in Atlantic Canada? Email our Associate Editor Gabby at [email protected] and let us know!