TRURO - The Split Crow is truly going to be living up to its name - at least as in split-level.
A renovation underway at the Truro pub will see the facility expanded from its current basement venue to include the space vacated by the Clay Café at street level.
"We're also building the best patio in Central and Northern Nova Scotia," said area businessman Derek Forsyth, who has purchased a 50 per cent share in both the Split Crow and the Ryan Duffy's restaurant, which is located directly above the existing pub on west Prince Street.
The expanded pub space will consist of about 2,000 square feet, Forsyth said and the upper and lower levels of the Split Crow will be accessible from indoors.
The outdoor patio will be located on the sidewalk that runs in front of the building and will be 8 feet wide by 65 feet long. And Forsyth said passersby have shown keen interest in that aspect of the project.
"We've heard nothing but rave reviews and people excited," he said. "People even stopping on Prince Street and yelling at us, saying: 'Is this going to be a patio?' Extremely excited. I'm getting calls everyday, 'when are you opening?'"
The patio is expected to open in June with plans to have the new portion of the Split Crow ready for sometime in July.
"It's quite an intensive reno," he said, of the six-figure project, which will also include construction of a stage for live entertainment.
"We've got a huge act tentatively booked for our grand opening in July," Forsyth said, while adding it is too early to disclose who that is.
A band is also coming in from Toronto on June 9, but he said the majority of future entertainment is expected to be Maritime bands.
In the meantime, Forsyth said, it will be business as usual at the existing pub.
"There's been a thirst for what we're going to be doing and I think it's just the right time to do it," he said of the expansion. "And it's just really exciting."
Your 10 year old can probably write and use punctuation better than Dad. Great example you're setting. Truro? .... a city? Man, that's a stretch. The Power Centre will be a city first, if this town doesn't start getting it's act together to attract the big stuff.