Sound proofing the windows at Name’s on the Way restaurant and bar in Montreal’s Plateau is just one of the measures owners took to help reduce noise complaints.
But co-owner Renaud Lambert says their liquor licence is still at stake, and they’re being taken to court for disturbing the peace after one too many complaints.
This all comes after music hall La Tulipe – also in the Plateau – announced it was temporarily closing because of a court order due to a noise complaint.
Lambert believes Name’s on the Way is also at risk.
“In court we’re fighting our bar permit, a bar permit that is in this locale for more than 50 years,” he told CityNews. “So we’re not the only ones to have a bar here. And if we lose our bar permit, we have to close down and we lose all our investments.
“It’s really hard to operate a bar in Montreal and especially in the Plateau.”
Lambert took to social media in hopes of making some noise – in a different way. He launched an online petition that garnered more than 3,000 signatures by Thursday evening.
“It was a bit of a last resort because we tried to work with the city, we tried to work with people that we could, but nothing really changed,” Lambert said. “We were a bit tied so that way I think things can change and legislation can change for noise complaints because it’s just how it’s written right now, it’s impossible for us to operate.”
The restaurant and bar has spent tens of thousands of dollars on updating its audio systems to limit noise. Owners have also added security inside and outside, limited the size of opening nights, and even rented out the apartment upstairs.
They’ve also installed a decibel reader: “That way we have an indicative of the sound when we have a bit of music,” Lambert explained.
That hasn’t stopped the fines from rolling in. Lambert says the restaurant has been fined up to $1,500 nearly every weekend for the last two years.
He adds the complaints come from some neighbours.
“We need to understand that operating a restaurant in a bar is a bit noisy, especially when like after 11, since the streets are really quiet,” he said.
On Tuesday, La Tulipe said it was closing “for the time being” after the Quebec Court of Appeal ordered it to prevent any noise from being heard by residents of the building next door.
It’s the latest chapter in a years-long legal saga about noise levels with the owner of that building.
“When I saw that, it really frustrated me,” Lambert said. “So that’s when we thought about just talking about it us too before we have the same punishment as them. La Tulipe is a magnificent place that should not be closed right now.”
On Wednesday, Plateau-Mont-Royal borough Mayor Luc Rabouin said the court’s ruling was based on an interpretation of one of the borough’s bylaws that was intended to be used for disputes between neighbours, relating to noise prohibited indoors and outdoors.
On Thursday, the city was scheduled to hold an emergency session to exempt music halls, bars and restaurants. That change is expected to be adopted on Oct. 8, before Lambert’s first court date on Oct. 15.
“This decision addresses the concerns raised and could impact the situation at Name’s,” the borough told CityNews in a statement. “The borough is in contact with the owner and remains committed to finding balanced solutions for all in order to ensure harmonious cohabitation while preserving the quality of life of the neighbours.”
Lambert is confident the bylaw change will put his situation at ease.
“It will change how everything is made in court,” he said. “And I think we’ll be able to have something positive out of it.
“So we’re really happy actually that it moved quick and we just don’t want other bars to suffer what we are currently suffering.”