Things could be looking up for a Halifax wine bar.

The Obladee has struggled with losing customers since scaffolding went up around the building nearly two years ago.

But earlier this week, Mayor Andy Fillmore said the city is looking at how they can help.

Co-owner Christian Rankin said he has hope, but not relief.

“We’re getting some action [from the city], but there’s some time ahead and some work ahead here, and we need it to happen. We can’t slack,” said Rankin.

Rankin said a lot of people came to the business to voice their support last week, since he and fellow co-owner Heather Rankin posted on social media about the scaffolding.

It went up nearly two years ago after part of the building fell and hit someone.

Fillmore previously told our newsroom the city is looking into whether they could put a lien on the building owners. That means the city would do the necessary work to repair the building and take the scaffolding down, then they would send the bill to the owners. He said they hope to get it down soon so the bar does not miss another patio season.

The city has issued four orders to comply to the building owner, according to Fillmore, saying they have to repair the structure. But the work is still not done.

He said it’s also a complicated situation, because the principal of the Caryi Group died in 2023, and now the company is facing financial trouble.

Rankin said the patio season is important because it brings extra revenue and helps the business in general. But if the scaffolding does not come down, he does not think they will even make it through the summer.

“Even when it’s not patio season, the presence of this scaffolding is just driving people away,” he said.