This cant be a black hole: Whats next for The Bays former flagship Montreal store – Montreal [Video]

The former flagship Hudson’s Bay store in Montreal helped to launch the city’s new downtown around Ste. Catherine Street.

“This prompted Ste. Catherine to become the department store avenue of Montreal,” explained Dinu Bumbaru, spokesperson for Heritage Montreal.

Now that The Bay has closed, business owners worry what will become of the large space in such a central location, just after the city spent millions of dollars revamping Phillips Square and the iconic street.

“This can’t be a black hole,” Bumbaru stressed. “It has to be an active part of the city.”

Merchants and business groups doubt most commerce in the area will be negatively affected by the closure but caution that if the building is left empty for too long, it could become a blight in the area. Some fear it could become a focal point for the unhoused and attract criminal activity.

Glenn Castanheira, executive director of Montréal Centre-Ville, points out that the …