Merchants were fairly killed on rue Saint-Louis by the second cleaning chore in 10 days due to water.
Again, the sudden flood quickly filled the navy blue restaurant and the Zen gallery, the neighboring room.
Around 4:30 p.m. Thursday, when the rain resumed more beautiful, the merchants were trying to make the flood traces disappear. Inside, the water has reached a record level in a very short time.
“It is the second time in 10 days. We had water on July 6, but this time, it’s worse. I had to call the firefighters, ”explains Esther Garneau, from the Zen gallery.
No respite
In the middle of a tourist period, the shopkeeper cannot imagine having to close her establishment. The summer season is short but crucial for business. Days are obviously better than others.
“I never know when a customer will come to buy a canvas at $ 10,000. It happens for real and it helps to pay the rent during the winter. ”
Helped on the Vadrouille side, Mme Garneau was walking barefoot, raised by hand, while the fans continued to dissipate the humidity. The reopening of the store is scheduled for Friday morning.
Photo Jean-François Racine
Right next to it, the situation was hardly more brilliant. Founded in 2019, Le Bleu Marine has been installed on rue Saint-Louis since 2021, not far from Château Frontenac.
From the vessels
“I can show you the kitchen. We had a mud. You have to clean everything. It rose everywhere. It’s a lot of work. The terrace began to flow into the restaurant. We are lucky to have a shop-vac. It has never happened as worse as that, ”says a little discouraged, the businesswoman Claudine Dery.
“It’s a bit extreme. There is furniture that has moved. We almost finished the dining room, ”added Yann Barrette-Bouchard, happy with the help offered by his neighbor.
As the holidays continue, the two restaurateurs prayed to the sky so that they can accommodate evening customers and properly honor reservations.
Outside, the strong rain was still falling around 5 p.m.
