Another long-time independent business on Ste Catherine St. W in the Shaughnessy Village is shuttering its doors.
"We're not making any money here and we're losing too much, it's as simple as that," said Paul Stock, the owner of the shop, one of the largest comic retailers in Canada.
Shuyee Lee/CJAD 800 NEWS
It's been almost a year since he launched a crowdfunding page to help pay the bills and stay open but it wasn't enough.
The nail in the coffin was a new owner who is more than doubling the rent to $9500 a month.
Betty Stock Handelman who helps out at Astro Books owned by her brother Paul Stock says the new owner more than doubled their rent to $9500/mo. That's when they had to throw in the towel. #CJAD pic.twitter.com/nS1d5prkHT
— Shuyee Lee (@sleeCJAD) March 30, 2018
Small businesses have it tough what with ongoing roadwork all around, increasing costs, and more and more condo owners in the area adding to the mix.
"There are some sort of gentrification issues that are coming up in the area there so it's kind of reset the owners' expectations for the rent levels," said Andrew Cross, publisher of commercial real estate magazine Espace Montreal.
"So that means that certain types of tenants we've seen like pet stores and things like that moving out of the neighbourhood and people are searching for lower cost space."
Shuyee Lee/CJAD 800 NEWS
Stock's sister and helper Betty Stock Handelman told CJAD 800 News that moving wasn't an option.
"At my age and Paul's age, it's pretty well impossible," said Handelman, 72. Her brother is 68. Both have health problems as well but despite that, they are not looking forward to forced retirement.
"It keeps us going, it keeps us active, we socialize through the store, we keep our minds busy through the store. That ends in July. What are we going to do? We don't want to just sit on our chairs and not have anything to think about or concentrate on I don't want to become a senile, old crab," said Handelman.
"I'm just a crab," she joked.
Selling is a long shot.
"You know, 30 years of work, you don't really want to close it," said Handelman.
"I'd like to see it keep going."
Betty Stock Handelman who helps out at Astro Books owned by her brother Paul Stock said she's 72 and he's 68 so moving wasn't an option. Selling is possible but a long shot. (But they say, Give them a call if interested.) #CJAD pic.twitter.com/nc4Js1tPsI
— Shuyee Lee (@sleeCJAD) March 30, 2018