Beloved Montreal restaurant to close after being listed for rent without notice

Nilufar Al-Shourbajisays she's still in disbelief that the restaurant she'scalledhome for nearly 30 years will be closing its doorsthis month.

"I think it hasn'treally hit me yet totally thatIwon'tbe coming here every day and this won'tbe the number one placeon myGPS," said the manager ofRestaurant Nilufar, named after her.

Last month,Al-Shourbajisays she was blindsided when her landlord listed her family's restaurant a mainstay on Montreal's Ste-Catherine Street as available for rent online without telling them.

"There was no closing of the restaurant in mind, we had no intention to close at any point," said Al-Shourbaji.

The restaurant was advertised atan asking price notably higher than what her family pays each month, she says a rent hike she claims her landlord never spoke to her or her family about before posting the ads.

Al-Shourbajisays the situation has forced her family to close up shop, as they're not interested in negotiating a new deal witha landlord in which they've lost trust.

"As soon as that happened, Ifelt like there's no future there," she said.

"When someone goes behind your back and does something like that, it's not somebody I want to be in business with."

The restaurant will be closing its doors for good on Dec. 16. It first opened in 1994.

Family given many chances to sign new lease: landlord

The decision to close wasn't easy forAl-Shourbaji.

"It'snot just a restaurantit's part of our family,it's part of the community, it's a landmark, it'severything," she said.

Vivi Amsis has worked in the kitchen at Nilufarfor seven years. She says she's seen how important the restaurant is to the community, as some customers have come in crying about its closure.

Emotions are alsorunning high for the 65-year-old herself, as sheworries it will be tough to find another job.

When reached for comment about the restaurant's end, Nilufar's long-time landlord Ziki Zaffir, the presidentof Amcor Holdings,saysthe family was given multiple chances to sign a new lease before it was listed online, but at a substantially higher rent.

In a phone interview, Zaffir said the restaurant has been on a month-by-month leaseand was paying below market rates for the space.

"We want a fair market rent, but just as much, we want a long-term lease," saidZaffir.

Zaffir said his company has offered Al-Shourbaji's father a long-term lease, but he's refused time and time again.

"These people don'twant they'renot interested in any of those [options]," said Zaffir.

When asked about this, Al-Shourbaji said her family was never approached about a long-term lease.

Less affordable options

The restaurant is located in a neighbourhood that has become a major target for developers and more expensive in recent years.

"It's really unfortunate, it's been a place that studentscan eat for cheap,"saidEnbal Singer, aformer McGill University student.

She says the area is developing quickly, and she fears other affordable restaurants will soon be squeezed out.

"There are going to be less affordable options for students and it'sgoing to makeit a less welcome place for students," she said.

Al-Shourbaji says she's not considering reopening a storefront elsewhere, but willcontinue to cater work events and sell some of her family's products at local grocery stores.

Despite how hard itwill be to say goodbye to a place she's always consideredhome,Al-Shourbajisays she knows she's making the right decision.

"This happens to a lot of people and people get away with it," she said. "I'mnot going to contribute topeople who do stuff like that."