The Main Deli, which would have celebrated its 50th birthday next year, closed its doors on Monday, much to the dismay of its regular customers who had become accustomed to dining at this restaurant recognized among other things for the quality of its meats. fumes.
Opened in 1974, the restaurant has become an icon on Saint-Laurent Boulevard over the years. The establishment was known for the quality of its grilled meats and sandwiches smoked meat which, according to several of its regular customers, had nothing to envy to the legendary Schwartz’s restaurant, located across the street.
However, the building closed its doors on Monday, less than a year from its fiftieth anniversary, as evidenced by an inscription on its front door and the restaurant’s Facebook page, which mentions that it is “permanently closed”. .
“It’s a sad day in Montreal,” sighs Fréderic Serre, who noticed the restaurant’s closure while strolling on Saint-Laurent Boulevard on Monday. He used to go to this restaurant once or twice a month for 30 years. Some of the restaurant’s employees had worked there for decades, he said.
“The sad thing about the Main Deli is that it happened so quickly that we didn’t have time to go there and say a final goodbye to the employees. It happened really suddenly,” adds Mr. Serre. The duty was unable to reach the restaurant manager on Monday evening.
“Many of us have fond memories of this place,” recalls Montrealer Toula Drimonis, who, when she was younger, used to end her drunken evenings at the Main Deli, where she remembers the quality of the food as well as the atmosphere that reigned there. It’s really sad to see him go, ”she laments. “This is another institution that is closing its doors. »