After a one year lockout, looks like the start of the hockey season in Montreal has brought business back to local bars, restaurants, hotels ...etc).
http://www.canada.com/montreal/mont...d=8b356fc7-2319-4d1a-ab6c-34f72a942c7f&page=1
Bars, restaurants cheer hockey's return
A Case of Blues: Toronto fans scarce at Bell centre
ROBERTO ROCHA
The Gazette
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Those loud cheers coming from around the Bell Centre last night were those of restaurant managers welcoming the returning the hockey crowd - at last.
After 18 months of quiet Saturday nights and almost silent cash registers, business owners who thrive on hockey couldn't have been more delighted.
"Every merchant, every restaurant, bar and hotel wins," said Nick Nakis, a supervisor at the Baton Rouge restaurant on Mountain St.
"Hockey takes care of everything around here."
Case in point: One hour before game time, there was a 47-minute wait for tables and the cocktail bar couldn't keep up with orders.
The popcorn machine at La Cage aux Sports at the Bell Centre was always nearly empty, despite waitress Andrea Chhan's constant efforts to keep it refilled.
Even the Esso station on Mountain St. was raking in the cash.
"Beer and cigarettes all day and all night. It's amazing," said the cashier with Tarek written on his name tag.
The slow business of the lockout forced restaurants to try and draw customers in other ways. Baton Rouge, which opened its doors just before the lockout season, struggled from Day 1.
"It taught us how to be a better restaurant," Nakis said. "We provided better service, more attention from the waiters when the hockey rush wasn't there."
Today, Nakis, said, people associate his restaurant with good ribs and spinach dip in spite of, not because of hockey.
"It hurt our sales, but we developed other things," said Benoit Gaulin, manager of La Cage aux Sports.
The restaurant marketed itself as a venue for corporate events and huge parties when there we no Canadiens' victories to celebrate or defeats to cry over.
"And there are lots of shows in (the Bell Centre) that kept people coming," Gaulin said.
But last night there was hardly a table without a body wearing a Maple Leafs or Canadiens jersey.
Inside the Bell Centre, the people behind the concession stands don't remember selling so muchbeer on a Saturday night the last time the Habs played. And the tricolour jerseys were flying off the shelves a little faster than usual, sales clerks said.
It's not just food services that come out on top with the return of with hockey. Freelance merchants like Stephen Martin try to cash in on hockey fever, too.
For a man who sells "Leafs suck" T-shirts outside arenas, he's quite calm despite the job hazards. He likes it when he's the object of obcenities or dragged from the Bell Centre by a security guard.
"It fuels the fire," the 26-year-old Ottawa native said. "We get a kick out of it."
His partner Emily Bitze, 21, would have been clobbered by a Leafs fan in Ottawa had his friends not held him back, Martin said.
But for every loyal Toronto fan, there are two others who gladly pay $15 for the shirt.
"No matter the hockey game, people still hate the Leafs," Martin said.
"To me, Toronto fans are more generous," said a beggar on crutches who goes only by Benoit. Just before game time, he got enough change for a few meals.
"I'm here at every game, and Toronto fans always give if they win or lose. Habs fans, when they lose, they get really angry."
For Al and Nadia Underhill, the rivalry is clear. He's a jersey-wearing Leafs fan. She proudly wears the Habs logo.
"I know couples who cheer for the same team and they're not nearly as exciting as us," Nadia said.
For his money, Al would watch a Leafs-Habs game in Montreal every time.
"It's my first game here and I love it. In Toronto, the price is out of control.
"And," added Al, in the middle stages of a shot gin, "they're more liberal here. They'll serve you a triple if you ask."
http://www.canada.com/montreal/mont...d=8b356fc7-2319-4d1a-ab6c-34f72a942c7f&page=1
Bars, restaurants cheer hockey's return
A Case of Blues: Toronto fans scarce at Bell centre
ROBERTO ROCHA
The Gazette
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Those loud cheers coming from around the Bell Centre last night were those of restaurant managers welcoming the returning the hockey crowd - at last.
After 18 months of quiet Saturday nights and almost silent cash registers, business owners who thrive on hockey couldn't have been more delighted.
"Every merchant, every restaurant, bar and hotel wins," said Nick Nakis, a supervisor at the Baton Rouge restaurant on Mountain St.
"Hockey takes care of everything around here."
Case in point: One hour before game time, there was a 47-minute wait for tables and the cocktail bar couldn't keep up with orders.
The popcorn machine at La Cage aux Sports at the Bell Centre was always nearly empty, despite waitress Andrea Chhan's constant efforts to keep it refilled.
Even the Esso station on Mountain St. was raking in the cash.
"Beer and cigarettes all day and all night. It's amazing," said the cashier with Tarek written on his name tag.
The slow business of the lockout forced restaurants to try and draw customers in other ways. Baton Rouge, which opened its doors just before the lockout season, struggled from Day 1.
"It taught us how to be a better restaurant," Nakis said. "We provided better service, more attention from the waiters when the hockey rush wasn't there."
Today, Nakis, said, people associate his restaurant with good ribs and spinach dip in spite of, not because of hockey.
"It hurt our sales, but we developed other things," said Benoit Gaulin, manager of La Cage aux Sports.
The restaurant marketed itself as a venue for corporate events and huge parties when there we no Canadiens' victories to celebrate or defeats to cry over.
"And there are lots of shows in (the Bell Centre) that kept people coming," Gaulin said.
But last night there was hardly a table without a body wearing a Maple Leafs or Canadiens jersey.
Inside the Bell Centre, the people behind the concession stands don't remember selling so muchbeer on a Saturday night the last time the Habs played. And the tricolour jerseys were flying off the shelves a little faster than usual, sales clerks said.
It's not just food services that come out on top with the return of with hockey. Freelance merchants like Stephen Martin try to cash in on hockey fever, too.
For a man who sells "Leafs suck" T-shirts outside arenas, he's quite calm despite the job hazards. He likes it when he's the object of obcenities or dragged from the Bell Centre by a security guard.
"It fuels the fire," the 26-year-old Ottawa native said. "We get a kick out of it."
His partner Emily Bitze, 21, would have been clobbered by a Leafs fan in Ottawa had his friends not held him back, Martin said.
But for every loyal Toronto fan, there are two others who gladly pay $15 for the shirt.
"No matter the hockey game, people still hate the Leafs," Martin said.
"To me, Toronto fans are more generous," said a beggar on crutches who goes only by Benoit. Just before game time, he got enough change for a few meals.
"I'm here at every game, and Toronto fans always give if they win or lose. Habs fans, when they lose, they get really angry."
For Al and Nadia Underhill, the rivalry is clear. He's a jersey-wearing Leafs fan. She proudly wears the Habs logo.
"I know couples who cheer for the same team and they're not nearly as exciting as us," Nadia said.
For his money, Al would watch a Leafs-Habs game in Montreal every time.
"It's my first game here and I love it. In Toronto, the price is out of control.
"And," added Al, in the middle stages of a shot gin, "they're more liberal here. They'll serve you a triple if you ask."
)and I am really looking forward to that along with seeing the Giants once a week and the Eagles once a week. 
