Downtown Montreal restaurant stressed at massive construction project
Another restaurant in Montreal says it's suffering because of construction and that getting inside is like going through a maze.
Dominion Bar opened in October and within a few months is worried about what the future will bring.
"So this here is the area where we can leave our garbage cans. The delivery drivers can't even park over here," said general manager Paul Nakis. "They have to park on the north side of St Catherine Street and then carry their buggies all the way to the back of the bar, which is behind the fences."
The city warned the establishment on Metcalfe Street in Montreal that work would be done, but staff were shocked to see how extensive the work became.
"Now we're barricaded in," said Nakis. "You have to park on neighbouring streets, and then you have to walk around the maze of fences that the city has built."
The City of Montreal's website says the work is to repair centuries-old pipes and told CTV News that the facade on Metcalfe was at risk of crumbling so more barriers were erected.
Bar owner Pablo Rojas said he never heard that explanation and was left to wonder why, all of a sudden, there were more gates and a closed alleyway.
"They did answer my call every time I was calling. They just had no answer or no solution for me," he said. "So it's pretty much the same thing as not taking the call at this point."
Rojas doesn't want a repeat of what happened in the Plateau where businesses had to deal with months of construction and some of them closed.
"Obviously, there's a lot of frustration," he said. "We're trying to be as reasonable as we can, but we are our main goal is to operate and to run our business."
As it stands, deliveries need to come down the alley and customers need to navigate orange cones.
"Obviously, most reservations come in late," said Nakis. "People are apologetic. People understand that. It's a tricky situation for us."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadians feel grocery inflation getting worse, two in five boycotting Loblaw: poll
Almost two-thirds of Canadians feel that inflation at the grocery store is getting worse, a new poll suggests, even as food inflation has been steadily cooling.
Norway, Ireland and Spain say they are recognizing a Palestinian state in a historic move
Norway, Ireland and Spain said on Wednesday they are recognizing a Palestinian state, in a historic but largely symbolic move that deepens Israel’s isolation more than seven months into its grinding war against Hamas in Gaza.
NEW How to remove ticks and what to know about these bloodsuckers
Ticks are parasitic bloodsuckers, capable of spreading deadly disease, and they’re becoming increasingly common. Here’s what you need to know about them.
opinion Joe Biden uses bully pulpit to bully Donald Trump on debates
Donald Trump had spent weeks needling U.S. President Joe Biden for his refusal to commit to a debate. But Washington political columnist Eric Ham describes how in one fell swoop, Biden ingeniously stole the issue from the Trump campaign and made it his own.
Ontario mother loses $2,500 to text scammer pretending to be daughter
An Ontario mother lost $2,500 to a scammer pretending to be her daughter asking for help in late April.
Montreal photographer captures dramatic Canada goose vs. fox fight on video
A Montreal photographer captured the moment a Canada goose defended itself from a fox at the Botanical Garden.
From AI running wild to collapsing ecosystems, government report outlines future disruptions
From artificial intelligence running wild to collapsing ecosystems, a new Canadian government report outlines 35 disruptions that could rattle the country in the near future.
opinion Tom Mulcair: With Trudeau spiralling, Mark Carney waits in the wings
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that if there's an unofficial frontrunner in the eventual race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, it has to be former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.
Police in Ontario say suspects charged in armed home invasion near Toronto part of 'larger criminal network'
Police in Ontario say a group of suspects charged in an armed home invasion north of Toronto last year were driving a vehicle stolen in a carjacking in Calgary just one month earlier.