February 13, 2025
Some Montreal bars plan to defy province restrictions and open early
'It's either we open, face the fine or we permanently close. We have nothing to lose, do we?'
‘It’s either we open, face the fine or we permanently close. We have nothing to lose, do we?’

MONTREAL — This is usually one of Ziggy Eichenbaum’s biggest-earning weekends of the year, when his pub is packed with tourists and partiers soaking up the atmosphere surrounding the Montreal Grand Prix.

But instead of hosting a giant street festival, Crescent Street is dead quiet and bars like Eichenbaum’s remain in limbo in the absence of clear directives on when they can open following the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, some are mulling defying the government as a protest tactic.

The province has announced that restaurants outside the Montreal area can open on June 15, with those in the metropolis following a week later on June 22.

But the measure does not apply to bars like Ziggy’s Pub, which cannot open because it doesn’t have a food preparation permit from the Quebec government, even though he says many establishments similar to his can open.

“We’re not a club, we’re not a disco where people stand up and drink,” Eichenbaum said. The only difference between his bar and those that can open is, “they have a kitchen and I don’t,” he said in a phone interview.

In the face of what they see as unequal treatment, some of the bars are taking a defiant stand. Eichenbaum and Steve Siozios, who owns Stogies Cigar Lounge and London Pub, are two of those who say they plan to open their doors on July 1, even if they face penalties.

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See Also:

(1) Restaurants planning for full reopening

(2) Liberals look at buying distressed buildings to save stock of affordable housing