Faubourg Sainte-Catherine, Montreal

Once a vibrant part of Ste Catherine, I was utterly disappointed and saddened by the state of Le Faubourg, which in the past was a signature of Ste Catherine, a place you wanted to return to to feel the life and pulse of this amazing city that we cherish so much. What happened to the bright, lively, an clean Le Faubourg? Now with torn floors, broken walls, dark and stinky hallways and washrooms, scary spots, unbreathable air, run-down food stalls. I got my bagels and rushed out. Even the bagel bakery seemed to be struggling for life and customers. It was once a spot where you'd eat freshly made bagels and watch them make them as they served long lines of those eagerly waiting for a taste... I felt so sorry for the bagelry owners. Most of the merchants have left. The place is quickly running out of business. SHAME ON THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT. Avoid this place, unless you want to grab some amazing Montreal-style bagels.

The Faubourg, once a prime spot of food in all of its various forms, is now little more than the shell of a building. Entire sections are closed off, floors torn up, stores shuttered. Half of the food court is now a dollar store, and when I asked a local vendor to explain how things had gone so radically wrong, he shrugged and said everyone who hasn’t been there in a year has the same reaction. Is there a plan for the Faubourg? That seems to be the question. As it stands now, avoid entirely.