montreal restaurants urge quebec for clarity on reopening
2 minute read
we apologize, but this video has failed to load.
try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
once kesté restaurant was given the green light to reopen after the pandemic’s first wave, management was able to get ready on about a week’s notice. but that won’t be possible this time around.
given the uncertainty of the last year, most of the restaurant’s cooks have left the industry altogether, and hiring replacements without knowing when they’ll be needed has been nearly impossible.
on saturday, the fairmount ave. pizzeria was one of several restaurants across montreal to join their voices and call on the government to let them know when they’ll be allowed to reopen.
“it’s frustrating because we feel we’re being laughed at in a sense,” said manager luigi esposito, between serving customers picking up take-out. “we’re here helplessly working, day by day, without knowing what’s going to happen.”
, owner of downtown’s chez alexandre pub, restaurants and bars around the city held what was described as an “open house” day on saturday.
owners greeted passersby outside their doors, handing out vouchers and encouraging them to look inside and remember how much they enjoyed visiting the places
.
creton said they considered reopening their doors to customers for the day against the government’s order, but wanted to instead send the message they’re ready to reopen while respecting public-health measures.
advertisement
creton said the day grew out of the idea the city’s restaurants and bars are “slowly turning into museums.”
the event comes the same week montreal mayor valérie plante called on the provincial government to allow the city’s bars and restaurants
.
plante’s remarks led to quebec health minister christian dubé urging caution and saying it’s still too early to fix a date, given the covid-19 transmission levels in the province.
for pierre lévêque, owner of chez lévêque on laurier ave., the back-and-forth between the two politicians did little to ease his concerns.
after the year restaurants have endured, lévêque said the least the government could do is give them a date to work with in order to prepare.
“the most frustrating part is that we have no guidance. we don’t know where we’re going or how to proceed with employees,” lévêque said.
“they keep asking me when they’ll have work again, but i tell them: ‘call mr. legault, because we have no idea.’ ”
though he plans on celebrating 50 years of business next year, lévêque said something will need to give soon in order to make it there.
business has been down 90 per cent since the pandemic struck, he said, and a lot is hinging on having a successful summer.
advertisement
“we keep surviving and hoping this will end,” lévêque said, “because we can’t hold on for much longer.”
all our coronavirus-related news can always be found at montrealgazette.com/tag/coronavirus.
sign up for our email newsletter dedicated to local covid-19 coverage at montrealgazette.com/coronavirusnews.
help support our local journalism by subscribing to the montreal gazette here.
share story
