An emblematic sign of Archambault 90 years old in downtown Montreal removed

The east end of St. Catherine Street is a little different.

The colorful neon Archambault, hanging at the music store at the corner of Ste-Catherine and Berri streets for nearly 90 years, was removed Monday morning.

The store moved next to its longtime home at 500 Ste-Catherine East earlier this year. The building, known as "Archambault House", now houses Quebecor's online radio station, QUB.

Quebecor owns the building and asked for the disappearance of the sign, according to Radio-Canada. The media conglomerate sold the Archambault retail business to Renaud-Bray in 2015.

The announcement of the disappearance of the brand spread quickly on social media, where many expressed their dismay. This seemed to set in motion an impromptu preservation effort.

"Many developments have occurred in the last hours," said Monday afternoon Émilie Laguerre, director of marketing and communications Renaud-Bray, adding that she hoped that the teacher would find a new House.

The former Archambault building and an emblematic sign, seen here in 1936. (Archives of the City of Montreal)

The mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante, announced that the Borough of Ville-Marie had taken possession of the sign and indicated that talks were underway to find a new home.

"We take the preservation of our urban visual heritage to heart," said Plante. "That's why the Ville-Marie borough has saved the legendary Archambault panel."

The large panel Archambault having disappeared, there remains only a smaller version at the corner of the street Labelle.

Quebecor says that he never wanted the panels to disappear

According to a statement issued by Quebecor around 6 pm, the media giant said that he had never intended to get the sign off.

He said he asked that the sign be moved to the new entrance of the music store to avoid confusion, and was "surprised and disappointed" to learn Monday that after dismounting, the panel would no longer be handed over. in place.

"The Archambault sign has long been an icon of Montreal and Quebecor intends to work with the city and Renaud-Bray to preserve it," the statement said.

Memories of past times

The removal of the sign brought back good memories of customers from the old place. They remembered buying instruments and sheet music at a store that boasted of being a one-stop shop for musicians.

Montreal's Patrice Belair bought a Godin electric guitar at the store when his grandfather, a violinist who is also a regular customer, died about 15 years ago.

"[I] I still have it and still plays almost every day. It reminds me of him and is very expensive, "he said.

He has been playing guitar for more than 40 years, but he says Godin is his favorite.

Arin Murphy-Hisbad remembered wandering through the store's clbadical music section with his cello on his back after attending clbades at the McGill Conservatory of Music in the 1990s.

"Three out of four visits, I would end up buying any album in the store," she said.