Haliburton entrepreneur Brandon Nimigon said he feels the weight of 100 years of history after purchasing one of the Highlands’ most iconic destinations, Bernstein’s General Store.
The realtor closed a deal for the Highland Street location Feb. 20. It comes almost a year after Heidi Grant, the fourth generation of Bernstein to run the store, confirmed it would be closing.
It’s been months since the doors closed, with Grant posting on social media in February 2025 that the business had fallen on hard times. The property was listed in mid-January by Donna McCallum of Ball Real Estate on behalf of the estate of Marty and Randy Grant – Heidi’s father and uncle.
As chair of the Haliburton BIA, Nimigon said he’d been keeping tabs on what was happening with Bernstein’s for months. Once it was listed, he registered his interest that day. Owner of Century 21 Granite Realty, Nimigon confirmed he’ll be moving his business into one of three commercial spaces he has planned for the old Bernstein’s property.
“The whole building is going to be a full redo. We want to restore the building to what it used to be – just a beautiful staple of downtown Haliburton,” Nimigon said of the 3,600 sq. ft. space.
He expects renovations to the main floor to run through spring, with the idea of having two new businesses open for summer. There are two apartments upstairs – a two-bed and four-bed, which Nimigon said also need to be redone.
Having grown up in Haliburton, Nimigon said he has great memories of visiting the store when he was a kid and has heard many stories from when Bella Bernstein, its founder, and Betty and Ron Grant, the second generation, ran it.
“Bernstein’s used to be the central hub of the community… just the history the family built there. These past few years you could see the decline of it, which is unfortunate,” Nimigon said. “We’re going to try and respect the history the Bernsteins built there. We have some ideas on how to do that.
“The store has been closed for the past year, so it’s going to take some work to bring it up to date. I’m really excited about the potential – not just for the store, but for the community. Bringing some new commercial spaces there is really going to revive that section of the downtown,” he added.
As well as interior work, Nimigon is planning upgrades to the exterior façade. That should help rectify the long-talkedabout pigeon problem in the downtown, with Nimigon saying the birds made their nests in the attic at Bernstein’s.
After also recently purchasing a building in downtown Minden, Nimigon said he’s passionate about investing in his home community. He and his wife, Megan, had been looking to buy in Haliburton’s downtown for several years, he noted.
“When I was a kid, all my friends growing up had this mindset of ‘let’s get the heck out of this town.’ There was this perception that there’s no money here, lots of storefronts were vacant, but that’s really changed these past 10-15 years. I want to be part of that change,” Nimigon said.
“I want to do my part to help both Haliburton and Minden grow. Taking on a project like this can change the whole feel of the downtown… I want a place where my kids can grow up and be proud of where they’re from. I want them to love Haliburton County and want to stay here, rather than counting down the days until they can leave.”
Years of history
Originally a general store that sold meats, cheeses and other groceries, Bernstein’s has been a staple of Haliburton’s downtown since 1923. Grant said it transitioned to a clothing store in the 1950s, after Dollo’s IGA opened.
Grant said she has fond memories of her grandparents running the store. Born in Toronto, Grant said she moved back to Haliburton when she was two so that her dad could help Betty and Ron run the place.
“He wanted me to grow up with family, as well as this amazing community,” Grant said in her social media post. “Any days that Bernstein’s was open, my grandma would make dinner for the family. We would all sit around the dinner table… eating, laughing, sharing memories and making new memories.”
After her grandparents passed away, Grant said her dad and uncle took on the business. They kept it going for many years, though with Randy passing in 2021 and Marty in 2024, the burden fell to Heidi.
“I have tried my hardest to do everything possible to save Bernstein’s and keep it open… it still doesn’t feel real,” she said last year after announcing its closure.
Nimigon said most of the remaining stock has been removed, but there were some clothing items and shoes left behind. He plans to sell what’s left at a reduced rate and donate the proceeds back into the community.
“Whether it’s the local food bank or another charity, we’ll be doing something for sure,” Nimigon said.
