MONTREAL - "There isn't much that defines Montreal anymore," said The Gazette's Bill Brownstein. "We want to hold on to what we have."
Brownstein, a columnist who literally wrote the book on Schwartz's, was one of the first people to speak to CTV News about the rumoured sale of the iconic deli.
Speaking on Tuesday, Brownstein reveals that Rene Angelil isn't the mover behind the sale of Schwartz's, but in fact the owner of the Winston Churchill Pub is the "kingpin" of the plan.
The sale isn't motivated by an attempt to cash in on a Montreal landmark, but the current owner is sick and the potential sale could be moved by a desire to "keep the tradition going."
Despite the high-minded rumours, the sales could cost up to $10 million, an amount that fuels fears of the Schwartz's brand becoming an exportable franchise.
A Schwartz's on Yonge Street could be too much for many Montrealers.
