St-Viateur Bagel on Monkland Avenue serves up last weekend brunch

St-Viateur bagel on Monkland Avenue hasbeen a fixture on the street for nearly 20 years, but on Sundaythe institution served up its last round of weekend brunch.

Open since 2001, the shop is shutteringits doors for good after closing time on Monday.

Many locals saw the Monkland Village location as a more accessible place to get authentic Montreal bagels, rather than heading out to the main St-Viateurshop in the city's Mile End.

Nick Morena, owner ofSt-ViateurMonkland, said he's disappointed to be leaving the area.

He said the location's lease was up this month and they weren't able tonegotiatea new one, partly due to asignificant jump in rent.

Even though his business won't be here anymore, Morenaisn't saying goodbye forever.

"We'regoing to take a little bit of a break for now. The idea is to reassess, regroup, you never know, we may open up in the future."

He told CBC on Sunday that he was touched by the response from the community.

"There's been an almost overwhelming outpour of love, for the last few days, people have come to hug me, hug my staff," said Morena.

Sharon King was one of the dozens who came by to thank the staff and say goodbye to the neighbourhood spot.

"It's a community gathering place. We always know people who are here. We've known people that have worked here.Just to come in here, it's like a warm hug in here," said King.