Pedestrian projects continued on Saturday in Montreal with the gradual closure of Avenue du Mont-Royal, as street performers and passers-by mingled in a festive atmosphere, to the delight of bar owners.
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On hand, co-owner of the popular Chez Baptiste bar, Bastien Daust-Bauden, wasted no time before taking advantage of the first day to close the commercial artery to cars in front of his establishment.
“We’ve been closed since last October, so we’ve been waiting for that, and it feels really good. Walkers allow us to increase the size of the balcony by 100%, as well as double our sales volume,” he explained on Saturday.
That’s because Montreal’s bylaws allow restaurateurs to use the space in front of neighboring businesses to expand their balcony, if they agree.
After a difficult winter marked by months of forced lockdown due to the pandemic, the influx of pedestrians brought in by pedestrians gives him hope. Not just because business will be good, he says.
People are in a good mood, and the atmosphere is festive when the street is closed. It brings us closer together and restores a sense of solidarity.
A little later, the managers we met at the Taverne Saint-Sacrement and at Les Enfants du Rock also shared the excitement of their colleague.
The start of the afternoon also gave them whole reason.
At the corner of Berry Street and Mont-Royal Street, the Karameloo Show percussion and capoeira ensemble stunned passersby with frantic tunes.
“The weather is nice, bring some sunshine and warmth into your life,” one group member shouted at the passersby who came to cheer them on.
Visible from the balcony of nearby restaurants and bars, members of the group were clearly performing acrobatics worthy of the greatest circus to the applause of the crowd, who expressed their joy when one of the group members flipped the back of a Brazilian. The flag was hoisted high by passersby.
Joël Lemay / QMI . Agency
Obviously, if this first day is the harbinger of summer to follow, then the atmosphere should be festive on rue Mont-Royal in the coming months.
Since the closure of the avenue began only a few hours ago, the endless orange cones made people feel more like they were on an obstacle course than in a pedestrian street.
Despite this, neighborhood resident Natalie Gerbo on her way to the balcony still found a way to appreciate the scenery.
“With everything going on right now, just walking down the street, I feel like I’m on vacation. She took the time to say before continuing on her way.”
There will be 13 pedestrian projects this summer in Montreal. They will be rolled out gradually during the months of June and July.
Mont Royal Plateau
– Mont-Royal Avenue between Saint Laurent Boulevard and Volum Street
– Duluth Street, weekends, between Boulevard Saint Laurent and Avenue Saint-Denis
– Boulevard Saint-Laurent, between rue Sherbrooke and Avenue du Mont-Royal Mercier – Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
– Ontario Est, between Nicolet Street and Pie-IX . Street
Outremont
– Bernard Street, from West Alley from Avenue Outremont to Bloomfield Rosemont – La Petite Battery
– Place du Marché-du-Nord
Mason Street, from 2nd Street to Saint-Michel Street
Verdun
– Wellington Street from Sixth Street to Regina Street
Phil Marie
– Saint-Denis Street, between Sherbrooke Street and Maisonneuve Est
– Sainte-Catherine Est, between Saint-Hubert and Papineau
St. Catherine Street, West, between Metcalfe and Gay Streets
– Crescent Street, from 1201 Crescent Street to de Maisonneuve Boulevard West Villeray – Saint-Michel – Parc-Extension
– Rue de Castelnau, between rue Saint-Denis and Avenue de Gaspé
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