montreal’s Latin Quarter Businesses Face Closure frustration Amid ongoing Struggles

Montreal, Quebec – Just weeks after enduring a dismal holiday season, businesses in Montreal’s historic latin Quarter are bracing for another blow: teh complete closure of Rue Saint-Denis starting January 14th. This latest development has left many merchants feeling abandoned and questioning the city’s commitment to their survival.

Martin Guimond, owner of the popular brasserie Saint-Bock, paints a bleak picture of the situation. “During the holidays, I had days where my revenue was down 93% compared to normal,” he shared in a recent interview on QUB radio. “My average was a 75% drop.”

Guimond, who has witnessed firsthand the decline of the once-vibrant neighborhood, sarcastically refers to the area as the “quartier de la franco-finie” – a play on the city’s recent rebranding of the area as the “quartier de la francophonie.”

“The Latin Quarter is being abandoned by the Plante governance,” he claims, highlighting the frustration felt by many business owners.

Adding insult to injury, Guimond says merchants where not directly informed about the upcoming closure by the city. Rather, they received a simple notice posted on the street.

“we learned that Rue Ontario and Rue Saint-Denis will be fully closed to traffic starting January 14th,” he explained.

The closure comes at a notably arduous time for many businesses already struggling to stay afloat. Guimond notes that many are barely able to cover their monthly rent, which can reach $30,000.”When your daily revenue is only $600 or $800, and you have five or six employees to pay, it simply doesn’t work,” he lamented.Guimond points to a number of factors contributing to the decline of the Latin Quarter, including vacant storefronts, pest infestations, homelessness, drug use, and violence.

“It’s not an attractive neighborhood anymore,” he says.

While the Société de développement commercial (SDC) of the Latin Quarter reports a 16.8% increase in foot traffic during the holiday season compared to last year, Guimond emphasizes that this figure doesn’t reflect the reality for all businesses.

He and other merchants are calling for assistance from the city, but say the upcoming construction project doesn’t qualify for compensation programs.

“I wonder how Mayor Plante would react if three months of her salary were withheld as of construction in front of her house,” Guimond said. “that’s essentially what’s happening to us.”

Montreal’s Latin Quarter Businesses Face Bleak Future Amid Construction and Declining Foot Traffic

Montreal, Quebec – The historic Latin Quarter, a vibrant hub of culture and commerce in Montreal, is facing an uncertain future as businesses struggle to survive amidst a perfect storm of challenges.

A looming construction project on Rue Saint-Denis, set to begin next month, threatens to exacerbate existing problems, leaving merchants fearing for their livelihoods. The complete closure of the street, wiht no clear timeline for completion, adds another layer of uncertainty to an already precarious situation.

“This is a disaster waiting to happen,” said Martin Guimond, owner of a popular restaurant in the area. guimond reported a staggering 75% drop in revenue compared to last year’s holiday season, painting a grim picture of the neighborhood’s economic health.

The holiday season, traditionally a lifeline for many businesses, proved particularly brutal this year.Guimond attributes the decline to a confluence of factors, including vacant storefronts, concerns about homelessness, drug use, and even violence in the area.

“people are simply avoiding the neighborhood,” Guimond lamented.

While the city claims to have seen an increase in foot traffic during the holidays, Guimond argues that this doesn’t reflect the reality for many struggling businesses.

“We’re barely able to cover our rent,” he said.

Adding insult to injury, Guimond and other merchants say the upcoming construction project doesn’t qualify for any city compensation programs.

“It’s as if they’re saying our businesses don’t matter,” Guimond said, sarcastically referring to the area as the “quartier de la franco-finie,” roughly translating to “the neighborhood of the franco-finished.”

The merchants are desperately calling for assistance from the city, but their pleas seem to be falling on deaf ears.

Guimond even posed a pointed question: “How would the mayor react if three months of her salary were withheld as of construction in front of her house?”

The situation in Montreal’s Latin Quarter highlights the delicate balance between urban development and the preservation of vibrant local communities.As construction looms and businesses struggle, the future of this historic neighborhood hangs in the balance.

Montreal’s Latin Quarter Businesses Face Closure Frustration Amidst Ongoing Struggles

Montreal, Quebec – Just weeks after enduring a dismal holiday season, businesses in Montreal’s historic Latin Quarter are bracing for another blow: the complete closure of Rue Saint-Denis starting January 14th.This latest development has left many merchants feeling abandoned and questioning the city’s commitment to their survival.

“Quartier de la Franco-finie?”

Martin Guimond, owner of the popular brasserie Saint-Bock, paints a bleak picture of the situation. “During the holidays, I had days where my revenue was down 93% compared to normal,” he shared in a recent interview on QUB radio. “My average was a 75% drop.”

Guimond, who has witnessed firsthand the decline of the once-vibrant neighborhood, sarcastically refers to the area as the “quartier de la franco-finie” – a play on the city’s recent rebranding of the area as the “quartier de la francophonie.”

“The Latin Quarter is being abandoned by the Plante governance,” he claims, highlighting the frustration felt by many business owners.

Adding Insult to Injury

Adding insult to injury, Guimond says merchants where not directly informed about the upcoming closure by the city. Rather, they received a simple notice posted on the street.

“We learned that Rue Ontario and Rue Saint-Denis will be fully closed to traffic starting January 14th,” he explained.

A Struggle for Survival

The closure comes at a notably arduous time for many businesses already struggling to stay afloat. Guimond notes that many are barely able to cover their monthly rent, which can reach $30,000.

“When your daily revenue is only $600 or $800, and you have five or six employees to pay, it simply doesn’t work,” he lamented.

Guimond points to a number of factors contributing to the decline of the Latin Quarter, including:

• The rise of online shopping
• Construction projects that have disrupted traffic and access to businesses
• A lack of support from the city

A Call for Action

As the January 14th closure looms, merchants in the Latin Quarter are calling on the city to provide them with more support. They are asking for financial assistance, as well as measures to mitigate the impact of the construction projects.

The future of the Latin Quarter hangs in the balance. Will the city step up and help these struggling businesses survive, or will the once-vibrant neighborhood continue to fade away?