2023-07-20 19:00:00
A former mythical bar on the Grande Allée, Le Maurice will soon make way for a “top-of-the-range” boutique hotel, in addition to a lounge restaurant and a “clandestine” bar.
Under construction for nearly a year, the major project worth more than $15 million should welcome its first clients next spring, underlines one of the promoters, Yanick Parent.
The place that has long been the landmark of revelers will be unrecognizable, while the entire interior will be redone, in a decor that aims to be modern, while preserving the heritage spirit of the place, we are told.
A big change, the large central staircase has recently been removed to provide more light to the restaurant and the hotel, says Mr. Parent, also owner of Le Clan, La Buche, Bello, Bloom Sushi and Don Vegan restaurants.
The interior of the former Cosmos restaurant, located under the Maurice will be completely redone, to make way for a restaurant with a hundred seats. Photo provided by Yanick Parent
Even if all the details of the concept are not yet fully put together, Mr. Parent says that the 27-room hotel will be “very luxurious”.
Restaurant lounge
A hundred places will be available at the Maurice restaurant lounge, on the ground floor. The establishment will also serve as the lobby of the hotel.
“I see it as a place where people go to relax and order lots of food. It will be antipastos to share, with a champagne menu. There will be a few dishes on the menu, but it will be more small portions to share,” he describes.
The restaurant will not house a dance floor, but rather a stage, where shows will be presented.
“We focus on events, shows, it will be festive. And, the furniture will be very malleable, so that there can be conferences, DJs, or even cocktail parties with high tables,” adds Mr. Parent.
speakeasy
The promoters also want to pay homage to this building built in 1901 and rich in history, while a clandestine bar, called speakeasywill be built there at the back.
Having previously belonged to the Price family, the former residence also hosted the National Union of Maurice Duplessis, from 1937 to 1972.
“It was a place underground at a time when there was prohibition. Maurice Duplessis’s mistress, Charlotte, lived upstairs. It’s a bit what I wanted to bring back with this hidden bar, ”explains the restaurateur, who has just returned from New York, where he was inspired.
Set up at the back of the building, the clandestine bar will be able to accommodate around twenty people each evening. Photo provided by Yanick Parent
Thus, only twenty people per evening will have access to it thanks to a code, which will expire at the end of the evening.
The entire concept of the project is thought out by the designer, Elsa Vincent, partner at STGM Architecture, who notably collaborated on the redesign of the Germain de Charlevoix hotel in 2011, as well as the modernization of the 47th parallel restaurant, in 2019.
The cigar bar still in place
In addition, the cigar bar, called Cigar Lounge, will revive in the same place, confirms Mr. Parent. “It’s unique to have that, it’s an acquired right and we have to be careful about it,” said Mr. Parent.
The promoters, Nicolas Chrétien, founder of Crackmédia, and Daniel Vermette, president of GSE Immobilier, are also investing in this vast project.
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