By Dan Laxer
The Suburban

The notice taped to the door of the Peel Pub, from Arthur Blumer and Associés Inc, Licensed Insolvency Trustees, read “In the matter of the bankruptcy of 9193-1634 Quebec Inc., “Peel Pub.” The classic beer hall style bar has been shut down after more than sixty years as a fixture of Montreal nightlife.

Citing Article 203 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the notice warns anyone removing anything from the premises for thirty days could face fines of up to $5,000 or up to two years in jail, or both.

The notice was posted on June 20, taking clients and even staff by surprise. Many heard about the closure via a post from Erik Intrevado, who ran an open mic comedy night at the pub.

“While there were signs of the venue struggling over the last several years, we did not believe it would happen overnight like this.” The post cites “numerous setbacks” the pub apparently suffered recently.

Intrevado writes that his sister had been one of the servers at Peel Pub, and is now out of a job, like so many others. And, since the bankruptcy notice warns against entering the pub and removing anything from the premises, Intrevado is barred, for now, from retrieving the sound equipment he used for his comedy nights.

Sami Jmaiel’s LinkedIn page still lists him as the owner of the pub, but not much else is know about him. Some staffers suggest there had been issues with payment since Covid, with one saying she hadn’t been given her tips since last February.

Peel Pub had been a Montreal landmark since 1962. Locations other than the original on Peel and Ste. Catherine have come and gone. But Montrealers have been sharing memories, mostly of colleges days – and nights – spent at Peel Pub.

Ajay Pakgarkar remembers almost getting into a fight at the Peel Pub in his “early teens” when he and a friend, playing a game involving quarters and pitchers of beer, managed to trick two others into paying for the pitchers once too often.

Susan Alper tells The Suburban that Thursday nights were best. “The food at the action was always upbeat and the crowd was amazing. I know many people that met their match there, too.”

Wayne Larsen, who is a retired journalism professor, worked there in 1987 when things at Peel Pub were clearly better than they’d been of late. “The money was obscene,” he says. “At lunchtime, the lineup went up the stairs and onto the street. I would help Yves, the manager, serve glasses of free beer to those in line.” n