After nearly a century in business, one of the Main’s oldest and most recognizable landmarks is heading westward.

Two weeks ago, for sale signs appeared in the window of Berson and Sons monuments, a family business started 93 years ago.

Current owner Brandee Berson-Klein is the founder’s great-great granddaughter. She grew up at the store, as did her father. She said though it’s time to move on, it's tough to see the store packed up and empty.

“We were the remaining memory of yester-year,” she said.

“I used to be able to walk down the street and know people in every storefront. And now, it’s just changed.”

The departure of the Berson family business is yet another reminder of how the Main has changed over the years.

Montreal Gazette columnist Josh Freed said the store made the street sort of interesting and bizarre.

“It was the only place, maybe in the world where you could go across the street for a smoked meat sandwich and then, you know, come over and order a grave,” he said.

“I thought it would close 25 years ago. It was wonderful that it lasted so long. “

The business gained some notoriety in the late 90s, when the sign out front drew the ire of the language police for having the Hebrew word for monuments written in the same size as the French word.

The late Marvin Berson, Brandee’s father, handled it all with a sense of humour.

“It's Christmas, you can never tell what Santa Claus will do,” he said at the time.

Eventually the OQLF said the pursuit of the business was unreasonable, and backed off. The sign was allowed to stay, and it has – until now.

The St. Laurent St. lot is for sale and the business is in the process of relocating to Ferrier St. Berson says much of the Jewish community has headed west, and following them will make life easier. Not to mention the new location will have more parking for potential customers, a big sticking point.

“People don't want to come down to St. Lawrence anymore and in our new facility it’s easier for them to get to me, easier for me to get to them,” she said.

Berson says the Main is still her home, but a move to the west is way overdue and after all these years, it was time to go.

“The street is still alive, there’s still people on the street, there’s still people coming, but not like it used to be,” she said.