Montreal restaurateur says construction killed his business

CTV Montreal Published Sunday, July 27, 2014 2:39PM EDT Last Updated Sunday, July 27, 2014 6:31PM EDT

Its familiar and unfortunate tale for Montreal small business owners construction is forcing a restaurateur to close up shop.

The latest casualty is Comme Chez Soi, a restaurant on St. Laurent Blvd. in the PlateauMont Royal borough.

Owner Stephane Francois blames the slow pace of condo construction next door, which began last winter, for killing his business.

The last three months have been a nightmare for me because of the concrete mixers, big trucks, the noise, dust, the sidewalk being blocked by the city for security purposes, and (eventually) customers werent coming anymore, he said.

Francois says he tried to get help from the borough but got little sympathy.

(They) told me, you know, we can't make an omelette without cracking the eggs, something like that? And it was a sad sad thing to hear from someone working for the city, he said.

Andrew Gryn was planning to hold his 65th birthday party at the restaurant and says hes heartbroken thats closing.

His place was very wholesome, great place, a gathering place, and unfortunately it just got crushed, he said.

Local entrepreneur George Lallis said he feels something more could have been done.

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Montreal restaurateur says construction killed his business