Closed for nearly 25 years, the emblematic restaurant at 9e floor of the Eaton Center on Sainte-Catherine Street will reopen by the end of 2023, said the owner of the building, Ivanhoé Cambridge. The art deco-style dining room, inspired by that of the Île-de-France liner, will be meticulously restored to preserve the heritage character of the place.
If it took so long to revive the 9e floor of the Eaton Centre, is that Ivanhoé Cambridge, which acquired the building in 2000, wanted to ensure the sustainability of the project to be carried out and find a solid partner. “We had to find the right formula for it to work. We took our time. It is a major project and the partner must agree to respect the heritage even in its operations. It’s not a simple project,” explains Annik Desmarteau, Vice-President at Ivanhoé Cambridge.
The latter, however, refused to reveal the extent of the investments that will be required or the identity of the partner in question. “We can say that he is a very respected entrepreneur in Montreal,” she mentioned, however.
In addition to a restaurant, the new developments provide space for event programming to accommodate shows, exhibitions and private events.
Upgrading work
The work has already begun with the approval of the Ministry of Culture and Communications which had classified the 9e floor of the Eaton’s store in 2000 under the Cultural Heritage Act. “After 20 years, there was the damage of time, but you also have to think that the standards have changed over these years. So there are a lot of upgrades to be made, such as fire emergency measures and asbestos management,” said Ms.me Desmarteau.
The restaurant L’Île-de-France, designed by the French architect Jacques Carlu, had opened its doors in 1931 and could accommodate 500 people. This capacity will be maintained, said in an interview the architect responsible for the project Georges Drolet, senior associate director at the firm EVOQ Architecture. “Evacuate 500 people from a 9e floor, with codes that are much more demanding than they were in 1930, we even have work to do on almost every floor. »
The classification decreed in 2000 covered the southern part of the 9e floor as well as all the elements that were in this perimeter, including the furniture, the dishes and the silverware. According to Mr. Drolet, discussions are underway with the partner to determine whether certain elements could be integrated into its operations. The large windows at the entrance to the restaurant that allowed Eaton to display its products could be used to present the history of the place, he says.
As for the restaurant, Mme Desmarteau points out that the formula has yet to be defined, but she says she expects “medium-high-end” catering to be offered. What Ivanhoé Cambridge wants, she insists, is that the premises be accessible to the general public. “We want everyone to be able to see space and maybe recall good memories or discover space for those who haven’t experienced it. »
Tradition and modernity
Although the dining room at 9e has similarities with that of the liner Île-de-France, Mr. Drolet considers that it is more elegant. “What is unique in this art deco interior is the combination of tradition and modernity. Jacques Carlu had his feet in both: he was a graduate of the School of Fine Arts, a very academic school, but he had his rights in more avant-garde circles,” explains the architect. “This marriage was impossible at the time in France because there was a war between the avant-gardes and the traditionalists. It was only outside of France that Carlu could do something like this. »
The reopening of 9e floor is good news, says Dinu Bumbaru, policy director at Héritage Montréal, who is taking part in discussions with Ivanhoé Cambridge to ensure public access to the premises. “The 9e is an exceptional example. It’s on the same level as Habitat 67, even if the architecture is different. »
He also recalls that the classification decreed in 2000 by the former Minister of Culture Agnès Maltais had an exceptional character because it included not only the 9e floor, but also its furniture and accessories.
Mr. Bumbaru’s last visit to 9e floor of the Eaton Center dates back to 2001, but he says he never had any concerns about the preservation of the premises given the identity of the owners. “Ivanhoé Cambridge may not have had the file for 9e top of the pile because they’re doing a lot of business, but they were always aware that they had something that needed to be done. »
Dinu Bumbaru also points out that the firm EVOQ has extensive experience in heritage restoration, having worked in particular on the renovation of the West Block of Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, and that of Union Station , in Toronto.