Without a Buyer, Le Petit Medley Will Close in Plaza St-Hubert

In "Le Petit Medley risque la fermeture à la fin du mois," La Presse reports that Jamil Azzaoui will shut down his bar, lounge and performance space on January 31. That is, unless, he can persuade a new owner to take over the 14 year old business.

"Bars are big machines that require constant attention seven days a week," Azzaoui tells reporter Martin Primeau. "I no longer have the interest or energy to manage the place."

Perhaps Azzaoui could muster the motivation if customers were aplenty. Alas, this is not the case. A difficult business partnership also precipitated the decision.

Primeau suggests that the bar owner was audacious to open in Plaza St-Hubert in 2000.

"When I arrived here, there were 75 vacant spaces, including 35 on this block. It was a disaster zone."

And yet while Primeau calls Le Petit Medley a nightlife touchstone and partially credits Azzaoui with the area's supposed turnaround since, Plaza St-Hubert is not entirely bereft of À Louer signs. As if to underscore his lack of confidence Azzaoui also tells Primeau that he plans to withdraw from Gainzbar, his other concern on the strip.

Le Petit Medley currently employs 35 people, reports La Presse.