Montreal vegetarian restaurant closing its doors after nearly 50 years amid rising costs

After 50 years of business, Resto-Vego will close its doors in July, citing high costs since the pandemic.

A vegetarian restaurant in the Latin Quarter on Saint-Denis Street will close its doors on July 12 due to rising costs.

Resto-Vego, which has been serving vegetarian food for 49 years, has been struggling to survive since the pandemic.

“We are all very sad,” said Dominique Azocar, manager of operations.

The restaurant’s biggest expense is its $30,000 monthly rent. The situation was made worse when the building was sold to new owners, leaving management unable to find an affordable new location in the city.

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Resto-Vego is far from alone.

A Dalhousie University study projects 4,000 restaurants across Canada will close this year, as rising costs continue to change the way people eat. More Canadians are opting for takeout over sit-down dining.

“Like anybody else, the restaurants saw the cost of food rising, the cost of electricity, salary,” said Dominique Tremblay from the Association Restauration Québec (ARQ).

In Quebec, Tremblay says the restaurants that are opening are mostly counter-service operations.

“Less employees, it’s faster, it’s a bit less expensive to manage,” she said.

Resto-Vego’s location at the Biodome and Planetarium will remain open.