People Of Pinnacle – 116 Pinnacle Street
By Melody Pereira
The Downtown District includes not only Front Street, but also the West Side of Pinnacle Street! We’re excited to introduce you to some of the People of Pinnacle you may have not met before, or who you want to get to know better. Let’s shine the spotlight on the Downtown District’s very own: Pinnacle Street! We learn their stories and discover more about the events and motivations that have led them to their successful businesses today. Let’s get into it …
The next stop on our People of Pinnacle virtual tour was a check-in at 116 Pinnacle Street and the 4 businesses that make it up. Founder Alnoor Landhani shared more about his businesses, what they’re all about, and what makes them so unique!
Step By Step
116 Pinnacle Street began when Al decided to start Step by Step Professional Family Foot Care to help people live healthy, active lives. While deciding what career he wanted to pursue, his passion for helping other people and making them smile was what drew him to chiropody. He attended The Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences and after he graduated in 1997, he started his career by doing house calls. He soon decided that he would be able to provide better services by establishing a dedicated foot care clinic. He saw that there was a lack of services available in downtown Toronto and opened the doors of Step by Step Professional Foot Care at 27 Queen Street in November of 1997. Al’s passion is providing great health care service to each and every one of his patients, aided by his creative thinking and patient personalized problem-solving. Al’s mission is to work hard, stay focused, and strive to make positive changes in people’s lives. He loves to teach and has a passion for providing outreach care in under-serviced areas around the world through charitable work.
While Al was thriving at his Queen Street location, he felt as though he was missing something. With a true love for the outdoors, Al found himself in Belleville in 2016, a location better suited to this passion. As he got out around the Quinte area and enjoyed fishing, golfing, and touring the beautiful counties, Al realized how underserviced the Belleville area was in mobility, fall prevention, and advanced foot care. He decided that this would be the next venture he took with his business. After searching many facilities, he found a spot at The City Of Belleville’s Recreation Centre. The property was completely renovated to facilitate Al’s vision for the people of Bellville and surrounding counties – the vision is to provide the technology, unbeatable service, and fair value that everyone should have available to them in their health care. And so began Step by Step Orthotic Mobility & Gait Center.
Sole Solutions +
To complement the new footcare services offered, Sole Solutions + was created – a shoe retail outlet for atypical feet to aid in biomechanically stabilizing people’s balance. You can also find complimentary orthopedic supplies. Every client that enters through Al’s doors is measured, fitted, and educated on what to look for in for proper, beneficial footwear. All feet are not created equal so footwear shouldn’t be either.
These two businesses became Al’s main focus, but he still felt as though something was missing and was inspired to use the space that he had at his location. With the pre-existing kitchen that was in the building, Al stirred on whether or not he should tear down the kitchen or build upon a food-themed idea. Being proactive in healthcare and trying to evolve in the community, the decision was made to provide fresh farm-to-table food right within the building for the Belleville community. He went ahead renovating and updating the kitchen.
Smokin’ 116 Bistro
The 116 Bistro was born, with a limited lunch menu and word of mouth, the restaurant became busier each and every day – sticking to strict protocols for providing fresh food, clean and fun environment. It became Belleville’s newest “hidden gem”.
For the love of music…
The 116 Bistro is now the most bumping spot in Belleville for open mic events… but how did this come to be? Al shares that as the Bistro started to grow, he met Norma-Jeanne and Greg Ceci who asked about the possibility of running an open mic at the Bistro. They decided to give it a try, and over time the events began to grow more and more. Many musicians came to perform their own original songs as well as covers. 116 now became a great food spot as well as an entertainment venue. Now, there is a professional stage, with an amazing backdrop paying tribute to those who started the musical scene and fan favourite musicians.
During COVID lockdowns, 116 has adapted by using their food truck to serve their delicious meals and setting up tents for safe outdoor dining and COVID-friendly entertainment.
The Smokin’ 116 Bistro is the new evolution to dining and entertainment. The delicious new summer menu will take you through a flavorful journey that boasts the best in Smoked BBQ, traditional favorites, vegetarian and gluten-free options. The menu is inspired and crafted within the kitchen, and everything is made in-house right down to desserts.
Belleville and Pinnacle Street serve as the perfect location to build community. Each staff member and patron that enters into Smokin’ 116 is treated like family and a friendly community environment is fostered.
Yoga at 116
Still focused on the theme of health and wellness, Al decided that he would convert the second floor of the building into a beautiful new Yoga studio to serve the Belleville community. Paying strong attention to safety and optimal sanitation, Al built the Yoga studio using hypoallergenic flooring, individual workspaces, and an overall Zen atmosphere.
Envy Spa
Al also used the upstairs space to become a great new spa in the Belleville Downtown District. The mission for Envy was to create a spot where people can get pampered in an optimally safe environment at a reasonable price. Envy is actually the ONLY spa in Canada that uses disposable jetliners! Your safety and health are undoubtedly put first at 116 and your mind can fully be at ease with premium quality products, environment, and exceptional service.
And there you have it! Everything that is The 116 Pinnacle Centre. 5 businesses operating under one roof to promote the wellness of the Belleville community.
