Halifax Alehouse sold almost exactly two years after patron's death

The downtown Halifax bar that was the site of an alleged homicide on Christmas Eve two years ago has been sold to a commercial real estate developer. 

The Halifax Alehouse and HFX Sports Bar properties were bought by a company owned by George Ramia on Dec. 20, according to records on the province's land registry.

Ramia, who owns several properties in downtown Halifax, including the Keg Steakhouse restaurant behind the Alehouse, did not respond to requests for comment.

The property was listed on real estate company Avison Young's website with an asking price of $10 million. 

"This property has been a staple in the Halifax dining and nightlife scene since before 1990," said the listing. "Now home to the family owned and operated Halifax Alehouse, it remains an iconic destination, renowned for its Maritime charm and character."

In the early hours of Dec. 24, 2022, Ryan Sawyer was found unconscious on the street outside the bar. The 31-year-old later died in hospital and the province's medical examiner subsequently ruled his death a homicide.

Alexander Levy, 39, has been charged with manslaughter and criminal negligence causing death in Sawyer's death. He was a security guard at the Alehouse at the time.

That incident was one of three that year involving the bar and its staff that led to charges by police or lawsuits. 

Those incidents also triggered an investigation by Nova Scotia's Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel and Tobacco Division that resulted in several charges under the Liquor Control Act. 

The division found several incidents throughout the year that were in violation of the province's regulations, including failing to report criminal charges in relation to an incident on or around the property.

Never reopened after imposed closure

In October, the province ordered the Alehouse to close for 45 consecutive days as a result of the Liquor Control Act charges, marking one of the longest closures ever issued to a liquor licensee in the province. 

"The talk [among staff] was that the owners pretty much had their minds made up that they probably wouldn't reopen," said Maurice Aucoin, who worked at the bar for 15 years as a house musician and karaoke host. 

The bar never reopened before being sold last month. Aucoin said he found out it would permanently close a few days before the province's imposed penalty was complete.

He said the closure is a major loss for the local music scene in Halifax and the longtime staff who worked there.

The legal trouble facing the bar and former security guards was just one of several reasons the owners decided to sell the bar, according to Aucoin. 

"They've just simply had enough," said Aucoin, who said he had a good relationship with the owners and enjoyed working for them. 

The owners of the bar, Michel and Marcel Khoury, did not respond to requests for comment about the sale. 

The future of the building, which was built in 1893, is unclear after the sale. A spokesperson for Halifax Regional Municipality said the property was being considered for heritage status, which could have protected the property from development.