St-Hubert Plaza coolest?
The Gazette reports that St-Hubert Plaza is one of the world’s coolest streets according to Time Out, but note the deck: “These people need to be stopped.” In any case, St‑Hubert comes up #27 out of 30, but the Gazette whines on about how it doesn’t mention the bridal stores.
CE 11:11 on 2024-03-14 Permalink
Does the Gazette have zero copy editors anymore? This story is almost illegible.
Blork 11:23 on 2024-03-14 Permalink
Regarding that deck, The New Yorker pretty much nails it with this article: “Your City is the Most Livable in America Until We Publish This Article About It.” https://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/your-city-is-the-most-livable-in-america-until-we-publish-this-article-about-it
JaneyB 13:13 on 2024-03-14 Permalink
I wish those Time Out people could be stopped. I’m sure that similar article on Verdun last year pushed up rent for shops along Wellington. Soon the only thing that will be profitable will be bars. Locals don’t drink in Verdun bars; we have balconies for that. Residents actually need those tiny amenity and service stores, like St-Hubert people need its dozens of bridal shops…well, not exactly lol.
@Blork – hilarious piece and so true!
Ian 20:02 on 2024-03-14 Permalink
Saint Hubey is fun and all but it’s hardly “cool”, lol. 2/3 occupation and pigeons, whee.
At least most of the stabby bars closed down over covid. I see there’s a new PFK across from the McDo now, nothing says “cool” like third-rate fast food I guess?
I was down there this last weekend with my kid for the first time in a couple of years and I was impressed by the variety of stores that are there now (though a florist would be a nice addition) and I was briefly amazed that such a place still manages to keep open within walking distance of both the Beaubien strip and Jean-Talon market. I suspect it’s more popular as a parking destination for adjacent neighbourhoods than for St Hubey itsellf.
That said the whole “cool neighbourhood” article is totally a death sentence. It’s how we ended up with a Lululemon on Saint Viateur.
Blork 20:12 on 2024-03-14 Permalink
The fact that St-H isn’t particularly cool is exactly what makes it so cool. It’s fun, full of good and interesting shops and restaurants, well populated, etc. without be self-consciously “hip” or whatever. To me that makes it perfect. Every time I’m there I think to myself “this is the kind of street I want in my neighborhood.” But of course it’s always on the verge of being ruined by popularity. (See New Yorker article above.)
DeWolf 20:51 on 2024-03-14 Permalink
St-Hubert probably won’t suffer the fate of Wellington because they’re very different streets. Wellington had a very low vacancy rate and it’s the only major commercial street in the entire neighbourhood (Verdun has a commercial strip but it’s pretty patchy and low-intensity in comparison). St-Hubert still has a fairly high vacancy rate and it’s one of many commercial streets in the area. It still has a lot of capacity to absorb new businesses. I’m more worried about Beaubien getting too trendy and expensive than I am St-Hubert.
I live two blocks away from St-Hubert and it’s a fascinating street because it varies so much from one end to the other. Most of the buzzier new businesses are on the southern half of the street, towards Beaubien and Bellechasse whereas the north end is a bit more old school. It can be quiet on weekdays but on Saturdays there are Haitian, African, Maghrebi and Latino families from all over the northeast part of the city that go there to shop. It’s very busy and I hear lots of different languages being spoken.
The block between Bélanger and Jean-Talon is becoming more and more Latino every year and there’s tons of foot traffic any day of the week. That’s especially true on Fridays and Saturdays when it has this kind of raw immigrant energy that reminds me of certain streets in London or Queens, NY. If you haven’t been to Plaza Juarez, go – it’s like a market in Mexico packed into about 4,000 square feet. Taco and torta stalls, drinks vendors, cell phone booths, a little money transfer booth, a weekend hair salon. Sometimes there’s even a guy singing norteño tunes in the corner.
Ian 09:31 on 2024-03-15 Permalink
Yeah it’s true that the north end is more fun. The bottom part feels a lot more gentrified.