New Minas’ Wine Kitz will comply with provincial law, the owners said Jan. 10.
David Cvet and Gail Smith bought the franchise from Blair Sampson in December 2012.
In early January, the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation launched an injunction application that is being heard in Halifax Supreme Court Jan. 11 to have the court enforce the Liquor Control Act. The corporation doesn’t want the businesses to allow customers to make beer and wine on store premises. The three stores involved are Wine Kitz Halifax, Wine Kitz New Minas and Water N’ Wine New Glasgow.
In an interview Jan. 10, Smith seemed surprised by the development and said the store will no longer offer the service.
“When we found out about it we were not aware of some of the issues,” she said. “We have been in touch with the NSLC… we understood the U-Vint was a questionable activity and they were not a fan of that.”
“We have voluntarily removed our U-Vint services,” she confirmed. “We will be able to continue to manage (customers’) wine we have with us until the bottling date.”
Smith said it was her understanding the New Minas location wouldn’t be part of the court application after all. NSLC spokeswoman Terri Mosher could not confirm the status.
The couple bought the company Dec. 7.
“This has all been a whirlwind,” Smith said, adding the company plans to continue lobbying the provincial government to change the law.
“We’re just trying to run a business.”
