A restaurant in Old Montreal has had its bar license suspended for nearly three weeks over a year since several outbreaks of violence and the repeated presence of “people of interest” to police.
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“In the present case, the violations admitted by the licensee are numerous and of considerable objective severity,” wrote Administrative Judge Natalia Ouellette in a recent decision.
The Tribunal des Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux earlier this month approved a joint proposal from the Sauvage restaurant and authorities for an 18-day suspension of the bar's license.
The Saint-Jacques Street eatery also has to pay a $5,000 fine.
This conviction follows a long list of discrepancies that occurred between July 2022 and June 2023.
hostility and violence
During this period, the Montreal City Police Service (SPVM) had to intervene several times due to fights or disputes between customers.
One of the most high-profile cases occurred after a person was kicked out of the restaurant.
Facade of the Sauvage restaurant. MARIO BEAUREGARD/AGENCE QMI
According to Judge Ouellette's ruling, he allegedly fired a shot toward a group of people before hiding the weapon in a vehicle when police arrived.
At the same time, the presence of “persons of police interest” has been detected on several occasions by the SPVM Eclipse Group, whose task, among other things, is to regularly visit companies or other licensed establishments in a certain area.
That's not all. Customers were described six times as “rude, hostile and aggressive towards police”. Bouncers also attacked customers at two events.
In June 2023, one person even broke the window of a restaurant to pour gasoline into it and start a fire.
The Sauvage restaurant's bar license was suspended for almost three weeks over a year-long period of violence and the repeated presence of “persons of interest” to police. It fell victim to arson in June 2023. Screenshot TikTok @marielisemormina
Overcapacity
For security reasons, the restaurant, which has a ground floor and a basement, was also sealed off in October 2022 with the presence of 355 people, while a maximum of 261 people were allowed.
“In this context, the court finds that the excess capacity exceeds the authorized capacity by almost twice, which could constitute an attack on public safety if the evacuation capacity is exceeded,” writes Judge Ouellette.
The latter nevertheless welcomed “a real awareness” of the company as well as a “real desire to improve and correct a problematic situation”.
The restaurant did not respond to messages from the Journal as of press time Sunday evening.