Every time he has to walk under the scaffolding that has surrounded his downtown Halifax business since the summer of 2023, Christian Rankin feels more discouraged.

The structure that was meant to be temporary, he said, is making it difficult for people to see the Obladee wine bar through all the steel and wood in the way.

"It's an eyesore and people can't tell that we're open," Rankin said in an interview. "If people don't know you're open and they can't tell you're open from 50 feet away, it's …