Hard hit by the work on Saint-Laurent Boulevard, a restaurateur deplores the lack of support from the City of Montreal. Faced with “the extent of the damage caused to the street and the sidewalk”, the owner of the Darbar says he was forced to close temporarily. And he is not the only one to suffer backlash in the sector.
Posted at 5:00 a.m.
“We have been closed for two weeks now, and I fear that staying closed longer will force us to close permanently,” summarizes Simar Anand, who owns Resto Darbar, an Indian restaurant located on Saint-Laurent Boulevard, between the Ontario and Sherbrooke streets.
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
Rehabilitation work on a large water main on Saint-Laurent Boulevard
Since the beginning of July, the City has been carrying out rehabilitation work on a large water main there. The situation creates significant traffic obstructions. This work, which should not be completed before the end of September, “has completely turned my activities upside down,” says Mr. Anand.
“Every day, I received fewer and fewer reservations, and therefore customers. It has slowly become very inaccessible in the area, especially for people with mobility issues. And frankly, today, no one wants to come and sit here with all the noise it causes. It no longer made financial sense to stay open,” he said.
Against the backdrop of COVID-19
The trader says he understands that the City must carry out infrastructure renovations, but regrets that he was never consulted to “minimize the impacts”.
Even the pandemic, which has been extremely difficult for everyone, has not gotten the better of my restaurant, which is very well established in the community. There I have 11 people out of work due to the situation.
Simar Anand, owner of Resto Darbar
His father — who founded this restaurant 26 years ago — passed away due to COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic, at the age of 57. “I want to continue my father’s legacy. I want to continue. But right now, I can’t,” says the businessman.
“We feel a lot of impact,” confirms Lorena Castillo, owner of the Maya Lorenn massage therapy salon, located nearby. “Normally, I have more than 20 appointments per day at the salon. There, even today, with the blocking of the street, I only had four. I have 12 employees, but currently, I alternate at the rate of only one per day. It’s the best I can do,” she explains.
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
Blocked sidewalk on Saint-Laurent Boulevard
A neighbor of Resto Darbar, the manager of the Famaliving Montreal store is less hard hit, since it is located at the corner of Saint-Laurent and Ontario – on the edge of the start of the work. “People always have access to our doors. It’s just luck that we are surviving at the moment, ”ironically Mélanie Smith.
“We get through it, but honestly, it’s flat and it’s a shame for our customers. It was much easier last summer, it was more accessible,” continues M.me Smith.
Parking problems are even worse than last year.
Mélanie Smith, store manager Famaliving Montreal
Not “for fun”, says Montreal
In 2020, Mayor Valérie Plante announced the postponement of 20 of the City of Montreal’s 64 major construction sites to “give respite” to merchants, who were then severely weakened by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the experience was not repeated this year.
M’s officeme Plante says he is “aware that the work is causing inconvenience”. “We try to limit them as much as possible. Of course, we don’t do jobs for fun. We are talking here about a situation that involves aqueduct work and the replacement of a leaded water inlet. Unfortunately, this work must be done to avoid a water main break and for the health and well-being of citizens,” said press officer Marikym Gaudreault.
Montreal says it is in contact with the owners and promises to offer various solutions to support them throughout the duration of the work and to limit the impact on their activities. Liaison officers are also available “to resolve any problems that may arise in connection with the work”. “We will continue to listen to our merchants,” concludes Mr.me Gaudreault.
In opposition, Councilor Julien Hénault-Ratelle points out that “this is far from the first time that traders have complained about the lack of listening from the administration”. “The latter may say that she is aware of the pitfalls caused by the construction sites, nothing changes. Not even the reform of the major construction sites program, improved in 2021 and still as dysfunctional as since its creation by Projet Montréal. While our traders are struggling, more than 20 million dollars are sleeping in this fund, ”he says.