Merchants in the Plateau closed their shops for an hour Saturday afternoon to protest parking restrictions they say will hurt their businesses.
They're angry about new regulations that make much of Laurier Ave. west of Papineau Ave. vignette-only parking from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The merchants closed their stores at 1 p.m. to demonstrate what they say the street will look like if nothing changes.
They say if new parking restrictions aren't changed the street may go through a serious economic downturn. Some business owners say they have already seen a drop in business since the change took effect in April.
Nicole Lepine, co-owner of Les Saveurs du Plateau, says her business has already lost 50 per cent of its clientele.
“We can't survive without people coming here from outside of the Plateau, and now, no one comes.”
A group of merchants in the area pulled a similar stunt two weeks ago, putting for sale signs in their windows to protest the parking changes.
A petition is being circulated among merchants and residents upset with the move.
“All my friends don't want to come around here anymore because it's too hard to park, too hard to circulate and it's aggravating,” said resident Dean Stinziani.
No one was available for comment from the Plateau–Mont Royal borough Saturday afternoon. Merchants and Plateau reps are scheduled to meet June 5 to discuss the situation and perhaps negotiate a change.
