Is Downtown Montreal dying? (2014, home, move)

[CXT2000]

Originally Posted by Arcenal352

Yep. When I took my wife there, she automatically assumed she would need to know French. She was surprised to find out she didn't need any at all.

Same with my friends, when i took them here they thought french only. When we arrived and they heard French, English, Arabic, Spanish, Chinese, etc... they all got shocked haha, kinda funny but cool to see.

[Yvanung]

So, to visit Montreal, French proficiency is not required, but to actually live there, some working knowledge of French is required...

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by Yvanung

So, to visit Montreal, French proficiency is not required, but to actually live there, some working knowledge of French is required...

Pretty much. I wouldn't live there without knowing French, but visitors are fine without.

[jambo101]

Originally Posted by the topper

Is Downtown Montreal dying? I read an article on Suburban Newpaper, Montreal based paper. It states that there are numerous empty storefronts along St. Catherine St.. How could that be since there are around 10 new high rises underway in downtown, particularly around Bell Center? Is Downtown Montreal near death?

Montreal is nowhere near death. Not sure what the context of the Suburbans story was but any large city will have areas growing and areas in decline and stores that have gone out of business, i wouldnt read too much into this story particularly if its some ones biased opinion.

[ARrocket]

Isn't the downtown population increasing? Someone has to be moving into all those condos going up.

I know it's just one night, but Nuit Blanche this year seemed like a huge success.

[CXT2000]

Originally Posted by ARrocket

Isn't the downtown population increasing? Someone has to be moving into all those condos going up.

I know it's just one night, but Nuit Blanche this year seemed like a huge success.

Montreal en lumiere and Nuit Blanche are always successful and packed, i noticed this year that there were more families and tourist than when i went 2 years ago.

[ARrocket]

Originally Posted by djesus007

Montreal en lumiere and Nuit Blanche are always successful and packed, i noticed this year that there were more families and tourist than when i went 2 years ago.

Not at 3 a.m.

[CXT2000]

Originally Posted by ARrocket

Not at 3 a.m.

So true haha, even at i'd say 9-10 p.m. is when the fun starts, very packed downtown even at 6 a.m. since St.Denis still had some bars open till then.

[UrbanLuis]

Originally Posted by djesus007

So true haha, even at i'd say 9-10 p.m. is when the fun starts, very packed downtown even at 6 a.m. since St.Denis still had some bars open till then.

I think all bar should stay opne until 6. Weren't they trying to move closing hour up to 5?

[ARrocket]

Originally Posted by UrbanLuis

I think all bar should stay opne until 6. Weren't they trying to move closing hour up to 5?

I read an interesting article from 24Heures recently (in French): Les établissements veulent recommencer l

Basically a lot of the bar owners don't think enough people would stay out to make it worthwhile on a regular basis, but, some did!

Though I see no reason for a law explicitly prohibiting it, as we have now