Dooly’s is closing Sunday, but people looking for a place to dance and drink won’t be left without a place to go.
The owners of Acropole Pizza plan to take over Monday under the name of Acro Lounge and Eatery.
Dooly’s Manager Chastity MacKinnon said she was shocked Monday when she and about eight others received termination papers from Dooly’s head office.
Business at the pool hall hadn’t been strong lately, though, and last year they closed their dance floor. They had struggled with their image as well after Amber Kirwan was kidnapped and murdered after a night with friends there. MacKinnon said the area is struggling economically overall and that’s impacted them.
“Pictou County’s suffering right now,” she said. “There’s not a lot of work. People are moving out west.”
She said she is sad to see the business close and expressed her thanks for the customers and staff she’s encountered over the last 10 years.
“I’m just going to miss everyone,” she said.
Tommy Chapman said the whole process moved quickly for his family, including his father Andre Cougias and brother Andreas Cougias, who run the Acropole Pizza locations.
“It was not preplanned,” he said.
He said his family had been approached about the possibility of buying it and decided to go for it.
He confirmed that there will be no downtime for the location and said it will continue as a pool hall and lounge.
He said there will be renovations in the future, but they didn’t want to have any stoppage, so changes will be made gradually and in the future.
Under their ownership the dance floor is going to reopen and the old DJ will be brought back.
He said they want to make sure they reach out to a broad range of people and not just one crowd.
amacinnis@ngnews.ca
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A transfer does not go through the same process as a new license.