Taqueria Arturo Hopes to Rescue Prince Arthur Street

The city of Montreal’s makeover on the Prince Arthur pedestrian street is coming together, and just maybe, it might be enticing businesses back to what has been for several years a dead zone in a prime business location.

Well, at least one business is setting up there right now — Taqueria Arturo, and it’s set to begin loading up tortillas as soon as this week.

One of the principals, Matty Mckean, tells Eater that his team are trying a different approach on the street.

“People always tried to make another Buonanotte and high end restaurants, and it’s become a cheap eat zone. And I think that fits the area better...we’re trying to revive that zone.”

That works well for the taco plans Mckean has in store.

“It’s going to be a pretty basic taqueria, it’s essentially Mexican and cheap eats because of the area around McGill. It’ll be open late Thursdays to Saturdays, with tacos and burritos, and margaritas.”

There will also be ample tequila, at accessible prices.

Mckean has previously worked with Cartel in the Mile End, as well as Joverse and Rosalie, as well as owning a spirit import company and even a bar in the Mexican city of Monterrey. He’s joined by two others — Jason Joyal (Diablos Smokehouse), and Jamal Goswami.

Joyal’s work with Diablos is set to play into the new restaurant, Mckean points out.

“We’ll use Jason’s smoking background with brisket and barbacoa, on the menu. As well as chicken tinga and baja fish tacos.”

Arturo will be moving into the location formerly occupied by El Patron in 2015 — that spot barely survived three months, but Mckean says the city’s renovations have made for a friendlier business environment.

“They’ve paved the whole area, made it for buskers, all that.”

And although nearby St-Laurent known for exorbitant rents, Mckean says Arturo’s landlord was just happy to have a business that could pay rent in the long term.

“We got a pretty good deal on the space because the landlord is friendly. He said ‘I need someone who can come in and run the space.’”

Taqueria Arturo’s exact opening date is TBA, but it should be sometime around the upcoming weekend.

• Montreal's Prince-Arthur Street to get $2M overhaul [CBC Montreal]
• Plateau Mexican Restaurant El Patron Closes After Only Three Months [EMTL]
• Taqueria Arturo [Facebook]