Café Saint-Henri Expands to Jean-Talon Market

Café Saint-Henri, the small, independent coffee chain and roaster at the centre of a recent firestorm over escalating rents in Saint-Henri, is about to expand to Jean-Talon Market. So reports a Chowhound tipster who writes today: "Sign is up and the renovations looks almost done."

Owner Jean-François Leduc recently told CBC Daybreak that his landlord wants to raise the rent at his original café on Notre-Dame Ouest from $23,000 to $63,000 a year. "The evaluation he made was based on the rent that Tim Hortons is paying next corner to me. They're paying similar rent, they're on a similar corner," Leduc said. As a result, Leduc, who operates other Café Saint-Henri outlets in Verdun and the Latin Quarter, confirmed that he will move from his business' namesake 'hood before his current lease expires in May 2016.

Neither Leduc nor staff at the Marchés publics de Montréal were able to confirm or offer details about the new Café Saint-Henri today. If it happens, residents will likely give it a warmer reception than Starbucks.

UPDATE––The new Café Saint-Henri is now open for business in Jean-Talon Market.

Café Saint-Henri, Jean-Talon Market [Photo credit: Café Saint-Henri]