Kramberger: With Peter’s Cape Cod on the market, how will Ste-Anne's boardwalk change?

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With a longtime restaurant up on the market and a vacated former eatery present process in depth renovations, the long-lasting boardwalk strip in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue is searching for an infusion of recent blood.

Peter’s Cape Cod, with a terrasse going through the historic Ste-Anne canal, is listed for about $1.5 million. The 2-storey constructing was constructed in 1987 and rests on a 7,091-square-foot lot (658.8 sq. metres).

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Whereas a couple of individuals have expressed some curiosity, a deal hasn’t been reached, stated proprietor Alex Elali, who bought it in 2015 from authentic proprietor Peter Vlachos, who nonetheless usually pops in.

Elali stated it’s been difficult operating the enterprise for the reason that COVID-19 pandemic, together with the hiring of workers. “It’s been a troublesome two years and I made a decision to get out,” he stated.

“This 12 months was a bit slower than traditional, most likely resulting from two elements: the financial system shouldn’t be doing that nicely and, this is essential, the climate. We didn’t have a great summer time in any respect. It rained — or they introduced rain — virtually on daily basis,” he stated.

Folks flock to Ste-Anne village throughout the summer time to observe boats move by way of the canal, stroll alongside the boardwalk and, hopefully, seize one thing to eat, Elali stated.

The seafood restaurant closed for the season post-Thanksgiving, and isn’t scheduled to reopen till April, which has been a routine for many years, Elali stated.

The reopening may depend upon the plans of a possible new proprietor, Elali stated. He hopes a brand new restauranteur will take over, it doesn’t matter what delicacies is perhaps on the menu, who will safeguard the expansive terrasse that gives guests a powerful view of the waterfront.

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In the meantime, the constructing that when housed Dundees Bar and Grill is present process renovations, together with a brand new roof. Exterior work can be accomplished inside a month. The property was bought final 12 months and the brand new proprietor will quickly be searching for tenants. The ultimate inside renovations can be accomplished and tailor-made to fulfill the tenants’ wants.

“We’re making an attempt to carry the constructing again to par after which we’re going to place it up for hire,” stated co-owner Gabriel Simard.

“We’re hoping it received’t be a restaurant moving into there as a result of it’s a tough place to earn money for a restaurant. We’re hoping that one thing else like knowledgeable will go in there, a health care provider, dentist … or rehabilitation centre,” he stated of potential tenants. “There’s completely no visitors there throughout the winter (for a restaurant). We’re going to be a bit selective so far as discovering tenants.”

Simard received’t fully rule out a restaurant, however stated it must be a restauranteur with a observe file. His goal is to land companies which can be secure year-round: “A vacation spot place or specialised place.”

Cunningham’s Pub proprietor Jim Beauchamp, who sits on the board of the native retailers’ affiliation, stated he welcomes any new eateries establishing store in Ste-Anne village, noting a couple of spots have already modified arms lately.

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“I believe it’s optimistic that new blood and new entrepreneurs are coming into Ste-Anne’s and placing cash into the group,” he said.

“You don’t want amount, you want high quality,” he added. “A few new eating places have opened which can be significantly good. It solely helps the city.”

Beauchamp stated the Peter’s Cape Cod property is a chief location alongside the boardwalk for a brand new restaurant to function year-round, like his pub on the north aspect of Ste-Anne St., or for a retail outlet that would draw individuals into the city of 5,000 residents, which additionally homes John Abbott School and McGill College’s Macdonald campus.

Beauchamp seems ahead to the town revamping the Lalonde Park space, the place a farmers’ market is hosted Saturdays from Could to October. He stated there are a number of scheduled out of doors occasions, similar to live shows and line-dancing in the summertime alongside the boardwalk, however famous these actions will not be held throughout winter when close by companies actually need assistance attracting guests.

Whereas the town struck a $500,000 cope with a promoter final spring to accumulate the property that formally housed Marco’s restaurant, it received’t pursue the Peter’s Cape Cod property resulting from unavailable funds and since the circumstances are totally different, Mayor Paola Hawa stated. The dilapidated Marco Bar & Grill constructing, which was gutted by a blaze in 2019, had turn out to be an eyesore and was demolished. The promoter’s proposal to erect a three-storey apartment constructing didn’t meet the town’s zoning for the boardwalk space, she stated. The town reworked the lot right into a public inexperienced house.

Hawa stated zoning for the village strip advocates for business exercise. She suggested individuals to double verify with the town earlier than buying a property to verify their plans meet zoning bylaws.

“Don’t suppose we’re going to change the zoning,” she stated.

Earlier than any new companies transfer in, they might require an occupancy allow, the mayor stated.

Ste-Anne hopes to replace its grasp city plan and launch a session course of within the new 12 months, and the village strip can be part of it, Hawa stated.

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