Owners of Mile End's Cagibi say 'substantial' rent increase is forcing them out

The eclectic Mile End vegetarian restaurant and event venue Le Cagibi is moving onward and upward into Little Italy if it can afford to now that owners say a rent increase is forcing it out of its current location.

Its buildingon St-Laurent Boulevard atSt-ViateurStreet has been bought by new owners who want to increaserent by almost double, said Cagibi'sJessLee.

Lee is one of Cagibi'sowners andsaid over the past five years, the neighbourhood has been hard hit by gentrification.

"We've been trying to keep this place going asa stronghold in the neighbourhood for as long as possible," Lee said.

"Now we're feeling the effects of money coming into the neighbourhood."

The new owner of the building said the proposedrent wouldn't have necessarily doubled, adding that the two parties had not yet negotiated the finer details of a new lease.

"We started but did not get deep into rental rate renewal discussions as it was clear that the co-operative business model was not able to afford even a discounted rate relative to market," building ownerJeremy Kornbluth said.

Thecafis in the process ofconvertinginto a co-op, a process it expects to be complete in April.

Le Cagibi in Mile End has to move

7 years ago

Duration 0:30

The eclectic Mile End vegetarian restaurant and event venue Le Cagibi is moving onward and upward into Little Italy.

A new space has been found five blocks north on St-Laurent, at St-Zotique Streetin Little Italy.

But the decade-old businesswith the thrift shop esthetic doesn't have the moneyto make the leap into its new location without asking for financial support.

The owners started a crowdfunding campaign seekingto raise $35,000.

"For all of those who have been regular customers, show attendees, promoters, or community supports over the years, we need your help. Some of you wrote your essays, poems, or first novels at our tables," Cagibi owners state on the crowdfunding page.

In 13 days, just under $5,000 has been raised toward the goal.

Cagibi needs about $85,000 to make the move work and the rest of the money will come from private loans, co-op memberships, fundraising and private donations.

The move is expected to happen in the spring.

Fewer music venues

Lee said the government should helpsupport these neighbourhood institutions.

In Cagibi's new location, there won't be live music eliminating one more music venue from the area.

"I do feel like the government could be stepping in, for places like Divan Orange, or like Cagibi, [that] have been cultural institutions for a really long time[and] have created a community from small venue spaces," Lee said.

• Popular music venue Le Divan Orange to close this spring

Last fall, Divan Orange, a similar space toCagibithat is also on on St-Laurent,announced it would close in thespring.

Owners said rent and tax increases were contributing factors to the closure.