Taverne Magnan

Taverne Magnan was a family-owned tavern and restaurant located in the Pointe-Saint-Charles neighbourhood of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1932 by Armand Magnan during the Great Depression, it began as a working-class drinking and eating establishment on Saint-Patrick Street, originally seating 75 people. Over the decades it grew into one of the best-known taverns in Quebec, expanding twice (in 1963 and 1976) to reach a capacity of 250 seats. The business was passed down through three generations of the Magnan family: from Armand to his sons Yves and Hubert, and later to Yves's son Bernard. The tavern was famous for its roast beef, a recipe developed by Hubert Magnan and his cook after a night of experimentation, as well as for its pea soup and bacon sandwiches served to workers building the Montreal aqueduct. For much of its history it operated as a traditional men-only tavern, a policy that made it a target of the feminist movement in the 1970s; it finally admitted women in the autumn of 1988, among the last Quebec taverns to do so. At its peak in the 1990s, Taverne Magnan was among the ten largest drinking establishments in Quebec, receiving 30,000 cases of beer per week from brewers and generating annual revenues of about $4.6 million. However, family conflicts, changing consumer habits, gentrification of the neighbourhood, road construction, and a 30% rise in beef prices contributed to its decline. The tavern announced its permanent closure on 7 October 2014, effective 21 December 2014. The building was completely demolished on 16 January 2019, and by January 2020 the site was being redeveloped for the Edwin condominium project.

Taverne Magnan opened in 1932 on Saint-Patrick Street in the working-class Pointe-Saint-Charles neighbourhood of Montreal, founded by Armand Magnan during the Great Depression. It initially seated 75 people and catered to local workers and residents of nearby Verdun, which was still under prohibition. Marie-Ange Magnan, Armand's wife, began serving pea soup and bacon sandwiches to workers building the Montreal aqueduct. The tavern's famous roast beef was developed by Hubert Magnan, who, along with his cook, visited restaurant after restaurant to taste different flavours, then locked themselves in the tavern kitchen for a night of trials until they reproduced the desired taste. The aging process of the meat was as important as the spice blend. For decades, women were barred from taverns. Magnan, very traditional, became a target of the feminist movement, notably from Pierre Pascau on CKAC and especially Lise Payette, who in 1977 debates on a bill called Magnan a "dinosaur" for refusing to admit women. After Armand Magnan's death in 1953, the business was taken over by his sons Yves and Hubert. Yves Magnan was both a businessman managing a prosperous enterprise and a politician well connected in local power circles; he served 16 years as a municipal councillor for Jean Drapeau's Civic Party at Montreal City Hall. Under his direction, the tavern expanded twice, in 1963 and 1976, increasing capacity to 250 seats. During the 1970s and 1980s, the tavern business model in Quebec changed profoundly. Women, previously excluded from taverns proper, could still eat in the dining room of establishments like Magnan. In 1979, the National Assembly passed Bill 55, which gradually eliminated men-only taverns by no longer granting new liquor licences for such establishments, without removing the acquired rights of existing taverns. Nevertheless, journalist Jack Todd of The Gazette wrote in 1986 that the end of taverns was inevitable due to rising beer prices and stricter drunk-driving laws. Taverne Magnan was one of the last establishments to open its tavern to women, in the autumn of 1988, to the dismay of Yves Magnan, who believed a tavern was not a suitable place for women, not even his own daughters, whom he confined to the kitchens. In 1993, Yves Magnan's son Bernard took the reins of the family business after a conflict between brothers Yves and Hubert. Hubert, who handled administration, wanted to create a chain of taverns and opened two establishments in east and west Montreal, which Yves opposed. Bernard, a physician who served as director of professional services at Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, was first given a mediation mandate, which failed. He then took over management of the establishment, which at the time was among the ten largest drinking establishments in Quebec. Brewers supplied 30,000 cases of beer each week and the business had annual revenues of $4.6 million. In September 2013, the tavern fired its manager when she announced to her employer that she had cancer. In 1997, Yves Magnan showed cognitive problems; his son Bernard, who managed the tavern with him, alerted his sisters and brother for help. The siblings denied the problem and expelled Bernard from the business. The family reached a settlement, bought Bernard's shares, and installed Alain Gauthier (husband of Carole Magnan, one of the two sisters), a former official at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, at its head. Bernard Magnan returned to medical practice. Employees unionized. Alain Gauthier undertook menu changes he wanted to be more gastronomic. Employees worried about the company's sustainability. Conflicts arose within the siblings. On 7 October 2014, Taverne Magnan announced its permanent closure effective 21 December 2014. The owner blamed the growing number of restaurants in the city, continual road work in the area, and a 30% increase in beef prices for the establishment's troubles. On 16 January 2019, the building was completely demolished. CEO Alain Gauthier stated that the gentrification of the neighbourhood and changing consumer dining habits had an impact on the tavern's closure. A year later, in January 2020, the site of the former Taverne Magnan was a construction site for the Edwin condo project. The arrival of this luxury real estate project, which praises a neighbourhood in development, illustrates the impact of gentrification.

• 2020

  In January, the site becomes a construction site for the Edwin condo project.

• 2019

  On 16 January, the building is completely demolished.

• 2014

  On 7 October, Taverne Magnan announces permanent closure effective 21 December 2014.

• 2013

  The tavern fires its manager after she announces she has cancer.

• 1997

  Yves Magnan shows cognitive problems; Bernard is expelled from the business; Alain Gauthier is installed as head.

• 1993

  Bernard Magnan, son of Yves, takes over management after a family conflict.

• 1988

  Taverne Magnan opens its tavern to women in the autumn, among the last in Quebec to do so.

• 1979

  Quebec National Assembly passes Bill 55, gradually eliminating men-only taverns.

• 1976

  Second expansion, increasing capacity to 250 seats.

• 1963

  First expansion of the tavern.

• 1953

  Armand Magnan dies; sons Yves and Hubert take over the business.

• 1932

  Taverne Magnan opens on Saint-Patrick Street in Pointe-Saint-Charles, founded by Armand Magnan.

Traditional family-run Montreal tavern and restaurant known for its roast beef, serving working-class clientele for over 80 years.

• Roast beef

  The tavern's signature dish, developed by Hubert Magnan and his cook.

• Pea soup

  Served by Marie-Ange Magnan to workers building the Montreal aqueduct.

• Bacon sandwiches

  Also served to aqueduct workers.

• Beer

  A staple of the tavern; brewers supplied 30,000 cases per week in the 1990s.

1. 1Taverne Magnan - Wikipedia (French)fr.wikipedia.org
2. 2Taverne Magnan - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Official website (archived/repurposed)maisonmagnan.com