End of an era as downtown Montreal's Peel Pub closes after 60 years
Employees say there have been delays with paycheques since pandemic
Erik Intrevado, a Montreal comedian, has been producing the weekly Peel Pub comedy show since February.
"It was pretty cool," said Intrevado, noting his sisters worked at the sports bar and he proposed it as a way to draw in customers on slower mid-week days.
"We were getting 20 comics every week, I would say."
But now that comedy show is no more. Neither is the Peel Pub — a bar that has been a mainstay in downtown Montreal for six decades.
This weekend, a bankruptcy notice was posted on the pub's front doors, warning that anyone who removes property from the establishment without the trustee's permission could face fines or jail time.
Located on Peel Street, across from Dorchester Square, the Peel Pub was known as a go-to spot for sports fans and students. News of its closure came as a surprise to most.
"Every time you'd go to the Centre Bell to watch a game — a hockey game — you'd come to the Peel Pub for a pint with your friends so it would be packed to the brim, the three floors up and down," said Aube Derome, a former Peel Pub employee.
"It was always such a nice experience."
But Derome says there were issues before the closure, including with pay.
"I haven't gotten my tips since February," Derome said. "Ever since I started here, I had to chase after my tips. It was always very unreliable."
Leela Prasad, an employee, said the closure was sudden. She was initially told it was a short-term shutdown due to a stock disruption, but then received a phone call confirming it was a permanent closure.
"Maybe they planned it all before, but we weren't aware," said Prasad, who had been working there for about six years.
Prasad said paycheques were usually timely but hadn't been as reliable since the pandemic. Business hasn't been the same either, with the lunch crowd greatly diminished since people started working from home, Prasad said.
Beyond the employees, there were people who built up a community around the Peel Pub. People like Intrevado, whose weekly comedy show was becoming popular.
"Everyone's upset about the loss," he said. "This was a community staple."
He said the city needs places where people can be artists, be it music, comedy or something else.
CBC News contacted the pub owner for comment but didn't hear back.
Written by Isaac Olson, with files from Natalia Weichsel