I remember when CHOM held a jello wrestling contest in the plaza. They had a giant pool full of lime jello there in the open atrium, and I think the keys to a car were supposed to be in it. It wasn't long before semi-liquid green jello was all over everything and being tracked around by passersby. One of the more disgusting urban scenes in my memory, and I don't think they ever repeated it.
I worked at the Maidenhead Inn in the late 1960s, does anyone remember it. First I worked as a secretary for Mr Cecil Hill and later as a Maiden, serving food and drink. I also used to sing with the pianist there, Ferdie Furtado. I would love to hear from anyone who had conections with this place.
wow,,,I have been trying to remember the name of that place! "Maidenhead",,,yup....I played my 2nd gig there in 1978 or 79 with a guy named "JC Allen Ward"
I worked in Alexis Nihon for 5 years. Handa Travel, stood from 1986 to 2009. Longest stand was Mr Jayakumar Daniel, my boss and my friend...
I remember my first time there, a terminus called Atwater, and there you are: Steinberg's, Miracle Mart, some stores, Greenberg's, later Cardinal, Consumers Distributing, and the Cinemas... Ahhh !
Saw that place evolved. Went to "Le Jeu" arcade many times. How much quarters I spent ? Enough to buy yourself a PS3 these days...
But hey, these were the good old days. And who can't remember the Towering Inferno for real in 1987 ? Yup, this building really burned down, but the mall stood...
For the rest, la Vieille Europe was the place for sandwiches and other treats. The owners did also owned Montreal's first real food store: Buywell on Ste-Catherine, and later the famous "Spot" supermarkets... Buywell was there before a certain Sam, whose last name had a fixture on the second floor, where the "S" orned the wall for so many years... and also the head office upstairs...
Place Alexis Nihon these days: Zellers, IGA, Winners, Canadian Tire, Pharmaprix. No more Cinema or Steinberg's, but the spirit of shopping lives on...
I wasn't the blonde haired maiden,I had Jet black long hair and I used to sing occasionally with Ferdie Furtado the Indian pianist. I worked in the back room serving food and drinks. My name is Elaine and I came from the UK.
Thanks for the remembrances of La Vieille Europe. I ran the store from 1985 until selling it in 2004. The store became a meeting place to discuss the world, history, music, art: just about anything. I tried to make it a specialty food stopover, a location that would draw from all over. I even had a customer from the Vatican who came back every year: I approached him for an autographed picture from the Pope extolling our little shop.I'm still waiting even though I sold the location 6 years ago...Michael Litvack
I visited Montreal this month and made a point of going to Alexis Nihon Plaza. After 40 years I had a little difficulty locating the site of The Maidenhead Inn, where I used to work, I think I found it. I must say that despite things I had heard I found the Plaza to be lovely, very pleasantly designed, lots of activity too. Montrealers, as always, extremely friendly. I love Montreal! Maiden Elaine
I was at the Maidenhead Inn almost every night between 1969 'till 1975. I used to go on stage and play conga with pianist Ferdie Furtado on a song he composed in an Indian style. Lots of good memories from those days.
I left the Maidenhead at the begining of 1969. Ferdie Furtado was best man at my wedding shortly after that. Sadly Ferdie died a couple of years ago, I did manage get in touch with him after many years, a lovely talaented man.
Yea they were really good times, being home in England its like it never really happened.
I moved to Montreal in '73. Alexis Nihon Plaza was the first shopping mall I ever went to, and the first escalator I ever used. Does anybody know the name of the store on the metro level that sold Rock posters/t-shirts, flags, knives, pipes, etc. It disappeared into thin air about 10 years ago (2003). Does anybody remember the darkened floor above Miracle Mart that had stereo equipment. It seemed cut off from everything else.
The architect of Alexis-Nihon Plaza, Harold Ship, died in August 2013. The Globe and Mail published a nicely written obituary. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/art-and-architecture/architect-harold-ship-spent-decades-making-a-mark-on-montreal/article14459632/
the tavern in the basement was called Les Carbinierres or The Carb, Andre the waiter brought you 3 steins of draft for .90 and you better tip him or you would be asked for ID and NO ONE wanted that....as they say...the drinking age in Montreal is 18...but thats only a suggestion
If you're curious to read more about Cecil Hill (the owner of the Maidenhead) and the other establishments he opened in Montreal with his brothers, check out this old Auf Der Maur piece from '81: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19810323&id=ZEIwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xqQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1530,1235232&hl=en
I busked in Westmount tunnel and the underground tunnel leading to Atwater Park. Drank at the maidenhead the carb,at at cantors and old Europe pastry. The fudge from the sugar and spice donut and coffee place just before entering the metro. If you hung out here in the late 70s and early 80s we probably passed each other at the very least
Love to get comments! Please, please, please speak your mind ! Links welcome - please google "how to embed a link" it'll make your comment much more fun and clickable.
Yes, the early days of Alexis Nihon Plaza also included multiple Pik Nik snack bars on various levels. I think there's one left...
ReplyDeleteIt was also the site of the first Ikea store in Montreal, back in the early 80s. Remember that??
I do!
DeleteI remember when CHOM held a jello wrestling contest in the plaza. They had a giant pool full of lime jello there in the open atrium, and I think the keys to a car were supposed to be in it. It wasn't long before semi-liquid green jello was all over everything and being tracked around by passersby. One of the more disgusting urban scenes in my memory, and I don't think they ever repeated it.
ReplyDeleteI remember that! My kids (teens) are fascinated that such a thing took place there. Haha!
DeleteI remember that as well. Snd there was a movie cinema on the third floor where sports expert is and on the metro level near the old Zellers
DeleteI had completely forgotten about the Miracle Mart!!!
ReplyDeleteI worked at the Maidenhead Inn in the late 1960s, does anyone remember it. First I worked as a secretary for Mr Cecil Hill and later as a Maiden, serving food and drink. I also used to sing with the pianist there, Ferdie Furtado. I would love to hear from anyone who had conections with this place.
ReplyDeletewow,,,I have been trying to remember the name of that place! "Maidenhead",,,yup....I played my 2nd gig there in 1978 or 79 with a guy named "JC Allen Ward"
DeleteOh yes i do !!
DeleteBeing a broken down Boston hockey fan I used to wander into that mall often.
ReplyDeleteThere was a tavern there in the basement that I believe barred women and waiters would bring draft beer to your table. It was huge.
I was there for 2 very special events.
28 years ago today I saw the US best USSR in Olympic Hockey. I was going to Lake Placid for the weekend but stopped in Montreal first.
I also saw Nixon resign as President there in 1974.
What was the name of it??
The carbinierre i think
DeleteMaiden,
ReplyDeleteI frequented the Maindenhead in 67/68. Met my first wife there. Were you the blonde with long hair?
I worked in Alexis Nihon for 5 years. Handa Travel, stood from 1986 to 2009. Longest stand was Mr Jayakumar Daniel, my boss and my friend...
ReplyDeleteI remember my first time there, a terminus called Atwater, and there you are: Steinberg's, Miracle Mart, some stores, Greenberg's, later Cardinal, Consumers Distributing, and the Cinemas... Ahhh !
Saw that place evolved. Went to "Le Jeu" arcade many times. How much quarters I spent ? Enough to buy yourself a PS3 these days...
But hey, these were the good old days. And who can't remember the Towering Inferno for real in 1987 ? Yup, this building really burned down, but the mall stood...
For the rest, la Vieille Europe was the place for sandwiches and other treats. The owners did also owned Montreal's first real food store: Buywell on Ste-Catherine, and later the famous "Spot" supermarkets... Buywell was there before a certain Sam, whose last name had a fixture on the second floor, where the "S" orned the wall for so many years... and also the head office upstairs...
Place Alexis Nihon these days: Zellers, IGA, Winners, Canadian Tire, Pharmaprix. No more Cinema or Steinberg's, but the spirit of shopping lives on...
Daveho
ReplyDeleteAt last, a reply!
I wasn't the blonde haired maiden,I had Jet black long hair and I used to sing occasionally with Ferdie Furtado the Indian pianist. I worked in the back room serving food and drinks. My name is Elaine and I came from the UK.
Daveho
ReplyDeleteI was the English girl with long black hair.
Maiden
Thanks for the remembrances of La Vieille Europe. I ran the store from 1985 until selling it in 2004. The store became a meeting place to discuss the world, history, music, art: just about anything. I tried to make it a specialty food stopover, a location that would draw from all over. I even had a customer from the Vatican who came back every year: I approached him for an autographed picture from the Pope extolling our little shop.I'm still waiting even though I sold the location 6 years ago...Michael Litvack
ReplyDeleteLoved the mixed meat cheap sandwiches...malaguena
DeleteHi again
ReplyDeleteI visited Montreal this month and made a point of going to Alexis Nihon Plaza. After 40 years I had a little difficulty locating the site of The Maidenhead Inn, where I used to work, I think I found it. I must say that despite things I had heard I found the Plaza to be lovely, very pleasantly designed, lots of activity too. Montrealers, as always, extremely friendly. I love Montreal! Maiden Elaine
Hello Elaine,
ReplyDeleteI was at the Maidenhead Inn almost every night between 1969 'till 1975. I used to go on stage and play conga with pianist Ferdie Furtado on a song he composed in an Indian style. Lots of good memories from those days.
Daniel
Hi Daniel
ReplyDeleteI left the Maidenhead at the begining of 1969. Ferdie Furtado was best man at my wedding shortly after that. Sadly Ferdie died a couple of years ago, I did manage get in touch with him after many years, a lovely talaented man.
Yea they were really good times, being home in England its like it never really happened.
I moved to Montreal in '73. Alexis Nihon Plaza was the first shopping mall I ever went to, and the first escalator I ever used. Does anybody know the name of the store on the metro level that sold Rock posters/t-shirts, flags, knives, pipes, etc. It disappeared into thin air about 10 years ago (2003). Does anybody remember the darkened floor above Miracle Mart that had stereo equipment. It seemed cut off from everything else.
ReplyDeleteYup radii shack and another high end stereo retailer .
DeleteThe architect of Alexis-Nihon Plaza, Harold Ship, died in August 2013. The Globe and Mail published a nicely written obituary. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/art-and-architecture/architect-harold-ship-spent-decades-making-a-mark-on-montreal/article14459632/
ReplyDeletethe tavern in the basement was called Les Carbinierres or The Carb, Andre the waiter brought you 3 steins of draft for .90 and you better tip him or you would be asked for ID and NO ONE wanted that....as they say...the drinking age in Montreal is 18...but thats only a suggestion
ReplyDeleteUsed to hang out here and pick up babes during the winter in 1968 & 1969.
ReplyDeleteIf you're curious to read more about Cecil Hill (the owner of the Maidenhead) and the other establishments he opened in Montreal with his brothers, check out this old Auf Der Maur piece from '81:
ReplyDeletehttps://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19810323&id=ZEIwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xqQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1530,1235232&hl=en
I busked in Westmount tunnel and the underground tunnel leading to Atwater Park. Drank at the maidenhead the carb,at at cantors and old Europe pastry. The fudge from the sugar and spice donut and coffee place just before entering the metro. If you hung out here in the late 70s and early 80s we probably passed each other at the very least
ReplyDelete