Smart Shop Place
Upon arriving in the Port of Sydney, Nova Scotia, a couple stepped off their cruise ship with their hearts set on finding a certain store they’d heard about. So, they approached the welcoming kilt-clad gentleman to get directions. As it turned out, the store they were looking for was a little out of the way, and farther than they were prepared to walk. But before the visitors could turn away in disappointment, the gentleman in the kilt did the kind of thing that Cape Bretoners are known to do: “I just hopped in my car and drove them there,” Bruce Meloney smiles modestly.
“You get that here. That’s just what happens. That’s the kind of people we are.” Meloney—the man in the kilt—greets thousands of cruise ship passengers at the Port of Sydney each summer and fall. He and his wife, Lizz, are also the owners of Sydney’s Smart Shop Place, which has its main location on Charlotte Street and a second store—Smart Shop Place Harbourside—in the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion at the port.
Originally established in 1904, Smart Shop Place has been home to some of Sydney’s finest retail outlets. The Meloney family’s involvement dates back to 1958, when Smart Shop Place owner Harvey Webber sought out Bruce’s father, Sid, to open a shoe store in the building. When Bruce and Lizz took the helm of that store in 1993, Webber eagerly mentored them on how to grow and maintain a successful business. Now, as owners of the bright and spacious Charlotte Street landmark building that is home to a collection of shops, including the original Shoe Tree, Bruce and Lizz are putting all they learned from Harvey Webber to good use. They surround themselves with good people. They go that extra mile to make customers happy. And they believe that trust and integrity are the most valuable currencies in any business. The Meloneys are also acutely aware of the ups and downs of retail. Over the years, the stores of Smart Shop Place have expanded and contracted with the ebb and flow of economic tides, and like many Cape Breton businesses, they’ve faced their share of challenges. Yet, there remains a constant undercurrent of optimism. “People here work hard, and they really value their time and their families. Maybe that’s why we can survive those tough times a little bit better,” Bruce suggests. And as Lizz points out, the key characteristic that any entrepreneur must cultivate is resiliency. “We’ve rolled with the waves, with the downturn of the economy and such, but we’re on our way back up,” she says.
“We’re in the process of building back up again, and we’re getting more excited. And when that big wave comes, we’re gonna be there to ride it!”
One of the most exciting developments for Smart Shop Place, and for downtown Sydney as a whole, is the city’s success as a cruise ship destination. Bernadette MacNeil, manager of marketing and administration for the Port of Sydney, says that Sydney typically sees about 50 ships and over 70,000 passengers each season. While these visitors—who are eager to shop and explore the downtown—have a tremendously positive impact on businesses in the area, the area also has a great impact on them. “When they come talk to me on the way back to the ship,” Bruce says, “ they always say ‘You live in such a wonderful spot.’” According to the comments MacNeil has received, the cruise ship passengers deeply appreciate the quaint qualities of Sydney’s downtown, the unique products and personalities of the many shops, and the genuinely friendly people. And having a kilt-wearing character on the dock to greet—and help—folks as they arrive certainly doesn’t hurt. “Bruce just has a warm, very personable attitude. He and Lizz really excel in their customer service,” MacNeil says. “And he promotes not only his own shop, but the entire downtown. He’s a great ambassador.”
As this picturesque piece of Nova Scotia becomes increasingly popular as a travel destination, the Meloneys anticipate new opportunities for growth and prosperity in their business, and in Cape Breton. “I see this area becoming stronger. It takes time, and it takes people being willing to just keep working and keep talking, and eventually, it’ll happen,” Bruce says. “It’s all about us selling ourselves. If they like us, they’ll keep coming back.” With great places to make great purchases, and the memorable kindness of people like the legendary gentleman in the kilt, what’s not to like?
