A conservator exasperated by complaints pulls the plogue

Photo LAURENCE HOUDE-ROY
The owner of The Big Luxury Veg, Alexandre Bastide, has officially closed the doors of his restaurant on Saturday.

Laurence Houde-Roy

Saturday, 30 December, 2017 16:37

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Saturday, 30 December, 2017 16:37

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The owner of the restaurant, The Large Luxury Veg needs to close his establishment on the rue Saint-André in Montreal, exhausted by complaints of noise from residents, and feared at the same time the end of the restaurant district.

“The tolerance limit in Montreal is very short and the citizens have an incredible power. I learned it [my costs], ” admits Alexandre Bastide, owner of four restaurants, The Big Luxury at Montreal, which closed on Saturday for its branch to be a vegetarian. Never I’m going to put it on a residential street. I settle only on large arteries now. “

Complaints

Upon his arrival on the rue Saint-André in 2014 in the heart of Plateau-Mont-Royal, many citizens of this residential street have challenged before the liquor authority an application for a permit, alleging that the restaurant was actually detrimental to the public peace.

Complaints of loud music, noise, hvac equipment, crowds of customers in front of the restaurant and breakdown of gate have encouraged the Governance to be imposed in 2015 strict conditions to the trade, including the requirement of close to 23 h, and having a guard at the entrance.

“I understand their situation, but it is also important to understand that there is a restaurant, says Mr Bastide. There was no fighting, not people who get you drunk. There has been a lack of understanding, of listening. “

Eight citizens had even filed new complaints in 2016 leading to the imposition of a licence suspension for 30 days.

Photo courtesy

Alexandre Bastide

End to restaurants in the neighborhood

With financial losses resulting from the need to close to 23 h, and $ 20,000 in lawyer fees, the owner of The Big Luxury has decided to “accept his fate” and to close the doors of his establishment a vegetarian.

The room show at Divan Orange on Saint-Laurent boulevard had also experienced a similar situation. After several noise complaints, the owners announced last month that they will close their doors in the spring.

“I wanted to be a neighborhood restaurant, and it is not for nothing that The Big Luxury has been popular in a place like Saint-André. But this is no longer possible, ” admits Alexandre Bastide, seeing the end of the neighborhood restaurants in the metropolis. Montreal is the city with the most cool in the world, with New York and San Francisco. It is not necessary to kill it, ” argues the conservator.

If Mr. Bastide does now, that the arteries of trade to avoid any conflict, it is estimated that it could affect both him and clients.

“I was paying 2300 $ rent per month [Saint-André]. It was part of my business strategy initially, to be able to charge less expensive my food to the customers. On Mont-Royal avenue, the rent costs double, and even triple “, he says.

Next sector

The neighbourhood of Griffintown, in full development, could well be the next area where conflicts between residents and restaurants have come, he believes.

“We look at the situation closely, but for the moment it remains harmonious, answers Robert Laramée, president of the Society of commercial development in Griffintown. The people who move in the corner also come for the restaurants offer. Unlike the Plateau, these are mainly offices, who live above restaurants. “