Montreal steakhouse Moishes aims to preserve family 'spirit' after being bought by Cage aux Sports owners

Moishes, the fabled steakhouse on Montreal's Saint-Laurent Boulevard, has been bought out by the company that owns La Cage aux Sports.

Along with its landmark restaurant, SportsceneGroup also acquired the rights to all Moishes' trademarks, branding and Moishes products sold in grocery stores.

Lenny Lighter, the son of the founder, Moishe, will continue to manage the restaurant.

He will aim to conserve "the personality and family spirit that has built the brand's sustained popularity for decades," according to a statement announcing the move.

Lighter said the sale puts Moishes in the best position to increase its offer of "high-quality products, already well-known to Montrealers, to a much wider and potentially global customer base."

"We can humbly say that we are an institution that has always greatly contributed to Montreal's reputation and specific character, and we want to keep it that way," Lighter said.

Jean Bdard, CEO of SportsceneGroup, said that his company was contacted by Moishesabout a year ago.

"It's an honour for us to have been approached to continue the journey of this great brand,"Bdardsaid in an interview.

He said that the brand's recognition "not only in Quebec but outside the province as well" was a big draw.

Bdardsaid that he plans to be "very careful" with any expansion, in order to preserve the charm of the original institution.

"For the moment, it's business as usual," he said.