10 hours ago
Peel Pub closes suddenly after 60 Years, leaving staff and performers in the dark
After more than 60 years, Montreal's Peel Pub abruptly closed due to bankruptcy, leaving staff unpaid and performers scrambling for new venues.
After more than 60 years, Peel Pub in downtown Montreal has suddenly shut its doors. On June 20, a bankruptcy notice went up on the locked front door. Clients and staff were caught off guard by the news.
Erik Intrevado has two sisters who worked at the downtown mainstay for more than a decade and were notified by text of the closure. Intrevado produced the weekly comedy night at the pub and had no idea an insolvency notice would be posted.
'Coming in without the permission of the trustee is guilty of an offense and basically breaking and entering,' says Intrevado, reading the notice on the locked front door of the pub.
When he heard about the closure, he came to collect his gear, but he was out of luck.
'Maybe a few hundred dollars a year, a microphone, speakers, some cables, power bar.'
Intrevado says comedy night was doing well, but Peel Pub was on the decline.
Raby, who didn't want his family name used, has friends who worked at the pub.
He came by to take a photo of the notice on the door.
Raby also pointed out the terrasse wasn't installed for this summer season — a sign, he says, staff took as a sign the end was near.
'They don't get paid on time. He refused to pay them as well for their hours. And who clocked in for the Grand Prix weekend. So there's a lot of people who still have money, tips stuck in here. Completely dead silence from the owner. Just kind of disappointing,' says Raby.
Ongoing construction also affected summer business, according to Dave Laanemets of McLean's Pub next door.
'Having the street closed at the intersection has been really bad for business. It hurts us. If no one's going up and down the street, no one's walking up or down the street. And it's not good. If the street was closed for a festival, that's a different story — then people have a reason to be here.'
CTV News contacted Peel Pub owner Sami Jmaiel several times and did not get a response.
Meanwhile, Intrevado says he's looking for a new venue to host comedy night — but lots of people, like his sisters, are looking for backpay and a job.
'I think that's where the real problem is, is what is going to be the process for everyone who's affected by this.'
