In Montreal, the journalist Louis-Philippe Messier is mainly on the run, with his office in his backpack, looking for fascinating topics and people. In this city chronicle he addresses everyone and is interested in all areas of life.
Ironically, after years of constant disruptive construction sites making access to his store difficult or “confusing”, one shopkeeper decided to put the orange panels and pegs right into his walls to make things talk and set things, or rather the pegs, in motion…
No music is playing at the craft beer shop Experience Bière this week, but a deafening YouTube recording of construction noise: the roar of heavy machinery, the thunderous crack of a jackhammer, the metallic screech of the round black saw, etc.
“Isn’t that a good soundtrack for a Montreal company?” jokes Olivier Marceau Landry.
The shopkeeper greets me in a construction vest.
“It doesn’t drive you crazy, this noise, you get used to it, if I believe my colleague who worked with this background noise for ten hours yesterday.”
“Several customers were very surprised by this frame choice.”
Don’t be alarmed if you come across a sign at a bend in the alley not far from the pee that says “Slow down: children are playing”.
Photo courtesy of Olivier Marceau Landry
Fleeting rest
Ironically, there was no sign of skittles near his door when I visited on Friday due to construction holidays.
“Was there yesterday as always! But this is my two week summer break! We can finally park… but everyone has left town.
According to Mr Marceau Landry, the orange cone and diversion festival will resume outside his door at the end of the bank holidays.
“It’s amazing the creative ways they use to discourage customers from shopping on the street!” he jokes.
“Since January 2021, the city has closed all parking spaces in front of my shop due to a higher construction site. So it’s been more than a year and a half… and it’s going to continue in August until God knows when…”
The dealer might show humor with his Works theme, but we’re really angry.
“I opened an Experience Beer branch on Avenue des Pins just before the work started, which completely destroyed it … and it hurt me a lot, it ruined my business. Here I try to survive. Luckily I have my regular customers.
Photo Louis Philippe Messier
Mr. Marceau Landry wants to maintain his working atmosphere again until next Wednesday… but will he have the courage? Construction noise can tire his patience.
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