These two homey little buildings at 2067 and 2063 Stanley will be demolished soon for a high-rise building and gone will be the memories people had of their time therein.
The one on the left (2067) was built in 1959 and the one on the right (2063) in 1953 according to city tax records. Prior to that two houses occupied the land.
2067 never really found its niche, while 2063 was long known as Carmen's, a Hungarian Coffee shop-restaurant that opened under Johnny Vago around 1954, which boasted 17 different types of coffee.
Carmen's featured murals done by the Montreal-via-Spain Jesus Carlos Villalonga that were paid for with $500 worth of food but were subsequently worth much more.
It was sometimes called George's, after the Hungarian that ran the place until at least the mid-70s when the upstairs had a lively cocktail scene after office hours, according to the newspapers of the time.
There were a lot of Hungarian coffee houses downtown around that time but they all disappeared together pretty suddenly and it'd be interesting to know why.
In more recent years the building became the Beer Museum and then something called Gulliver Steak House.
The other building, 2067, flew much lower under the radar. It housed Mfrs Merchandising Import Ltd. (1955), Star Hand Laundry (1967) Le Marignan French restaurant in the 80s and then Chao Phraya in the 90s none of which will particularly be remembered in history until now.
One of them (the on on the left) housed the William Tell, a large Swiss restaurant in the late 70's/80s. Nice place, with a huge (to me at the time) space upstairs where they had events, such as office parties and Swiss/Austrian/German dinners.
ReplyDeleteThe buildings are not going to be demolished for some time. The condo tower that was to replace them, Le Triomphe has been cancelled due to poor sales
ReplyDeleteKristian,
ReplyDeleteThe Hungarian restaurants and coffee houses of the time were established to serve the influx of Hungarian immigrants after World War II.
The first large wave arrived in 1948 after Hungary's government was seized by the Communists. The second large wave came in 1956 and 1957 following the anti-Communist revolution of October 1956. Montreal was Canada's most important city at the time, which is why most immigrants came through here even if they would eventually move to other Canadian cities. Montreal was Canada'a gateway city.
The Hungarian restaurants and coffee houses were the social centre of the Hungarian community. It was where you could meet friends from the old country. Tips About possible lodging and jobs were exchanged. Many immigrants had their first jobs in Canada by becoming waiters in these coffee houses and restaurants. For many, they were a nice transition into Canadian life.
Most of the immigrants in these waves were between 20 and 40 years old. As they slowly assimilated into Canadian society and also aged, the Hungarian coffee house or restaurant was no longer as important to the community as it had been in their first few months or years in a new country.
The next generation of Hungarians was born or grew up in Canadian society and most often married non-Hungarians. The language and customs atarted fading away. This generation never really took to Hungarian coffee houises and restaurants in the same way as their parents had. Most of these places started closing in the 1960s and 1970s as the immigrant generations started dying off.
While the tradition of Hungarian coffee houses in Montreal may have waned, other old traditions are still maintained. The St. Stephen's Ball with debutantes, waltzes and great food continues annually as it has since the late 1950s.
ReplyDeleteOh such memories about to be erased. I was a regular of Carmen's. Great atmosphere for all afficionados of Spanish flavors and who are impressed with Flamenco studded surroundings. The atmosphere and the murals were remarkable and gave the place a definite feeling of being in Spain.
The other restaurant that I personally favored, even more than Carmen's, was the place next door, which Oxford's Magazine Rack refers to; The William Tell.
For lovers of Swiss food, this was the ultimate location in Montreal. It was really, purely and genuinly one hundred percent Swiss. Their specialized plate of Air Dried Beef was exquisite. (and the Rösti potatoes -oh my ! - heavenly)
Both of these wonderful restaurants will dissapear from the street and locations they occupied, but to those who patronized them, and considered them as “extra special” spots to go to for important celebrations and memorable events, they will remain in our memories forever.
Very sad they are gone. (Shades of Expo 67)
If I may be permitted; I wish to commend and applaud
ReplyDelete"HF" for posting a truly very interesting and genuinely authentic Magyar comment.
A worthy expression meriting praise.
OMR, LR, I think the William Tell was a different building three doors to the south - it's listed as being at
ReplyDelete2055 Stanley
http://goo.gl/maps/T6j1f
ReplyDeleteKG: Could be... I always thought the "gilbert's steak house/beer museum" bldg looked kinda Swiss, so I matched it up to my pre-pubescent memories of the William Tell. (They made a mean Rob Roy BTW!)
ReplyDeleteDuring the 1970s there was the Pam Pam on Stanley Street which served delicious Hungarian dumplings.
ReplyDeleteDr. Joe Schwarcz shared his memories of Montreal's Hungarian restaurants on his Facebook page... perhaps some of you remember them?
ReplyDeleteJoe Schwarcz shared a link.
4 March 2014
I was asked if there is a Hungarian Restaurant in Montreal. We used to have lots. My aunt owned one in the late 50s..the Riviera on Stanley Street. (Best wienerschitzel ever...hung off the plate). Then there was the Pam Pam, the Carmen, the Tokay, the Hungarian Social Club, the Bon Bon, the Coffee Mill and the Paprika. Alas they are all gone. The only one now is Cafe Rococo on Lincoln Street. Believe it or not they feature Dr. Joe's Vegetarian Goulash! Of course you can also find it at Qualitifruits on Westminster. Or occasionally in my kitchen.