Bureau en Gros CSL closed; Somerled restaurants in limbo

So what does this say about the economy?

Bureau en Gros has finally shuts its doors at the Quartier Cavendish, a real loss for the community and a shopping centre which has been doing reasonably well since it was sliced in half to make way for a large residential development.

Bureau En Gros Cavendish all shut down

This was no surprise. The head office made the announcement last June. Now the Quartier, still affectionately referred to as "the Mall" by many, has this massive space to fill. Bureau en Gros was in place there for more than a decade. Living close by, I so much appreciated the novelty of dashing over when I needed any  type of office or computer supplies, not to mention a telephone or an electronic wire. It seemed to be doing well, but I guess the head honches felt otherwise. What could fit in this spot? A large restaurant? A second grocery store? Maybe Eaton can be revived?  

Meanwhile, as reported on this blog on July 3, 2013, I guess we can now formally begin eulogizing Restaurant Antico Martini. The NDG Somerled Avenue institution actually shut its doors on June 22, 2013. Nonetheless, the owners refused to acknowledge that it would not reopen. Even last summer I got a call big boss Thomas  who indicated a comeback was not impossible. Well, the tables have been left set for 20 months and finally this week I saw a big sign in the window signalling the end is indeed near.

Luc Vaillancourt of Pagex Real Estate is advertising the sale on his website.  Not only is the restaurant property up for grab, so are  10 apartments on the top floors and  another commercial unit which has been rented by  dry cleaner for many years. As for Antico Martini, the ad acknowledges  it "is now closed."   All restaurant equipment is included in the selling price of $1.45 million.

The Antico Martini building is for sale

Sticking with  Somerled, the future of two other restaurants seems to be in limbo. There are signs in the windows of both Restaurant Agostini and Olympic Agora that they will be "open soon." But why are they closed in the first place.

One restaurant where business continues to boom on Somerled is B&M. I was there Saturday night and we were lucky to get a table. Hats off to the management for being perhaps the only restaurant in the West End to make a full breakfast menu available throughout their opening hours. Sometimes I feel like having breakfast for supper, an option which was easy to fulfill in the days of Picasso on St. Jacques. I had high hopes for Eggspectation at Hotel Ruby Foo's when they stayed open until 11 p.m. But they now shut down at 4 p.m. There is a new spot called Il Figo, but sadly they have not maintained a breakfast menu.

Agora Restaurant reborn on Somerled Avenue in NDG

Good news for folks like me who were sorry to see the popular Agora Restaurant on Somerled Avenue in N.D.G. close its doors last summer. Chef Fotis Vasilakakis has breathed new life into the establishment, rebranding it Olympic Agora.

Emmanuel Plaitis  had purchased the 60 seat eatery from original owner Peter Vamvakaris towards the end of 2010. All seemed to be going well, until the surprising closure. Fortunately,  veteran restaurant man Vasilakakis stepped up to the plate.  When I dined there with family members I was most impressed to see the new owner step out of the kitchen on more than one occasion to visit each table and see how their meals were going. He even had the waitress present several items on the house -not a bad PR move when trying to lure back former customers and attract new ones.

I had the trademark Greek chicken, a quarter breast with rice and Greek potatoes. It was excellent. The old Agora menu, with such favorites as Greek salads, brochettes, lamb chops, steaks, sole, salmon filet, remains intact, but with the new Fotis touch.

Fotis told me that a website is in the planning stages.  The address is at 6544 Somerled . For more information call 514-484-1111.