Obit: Ben's Deli (Montreal)

Subject: Obit: Ben's Deli (Montreal)
From: bobad
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 10:52 AM

MONTREAL -- A landmark deli where Pierre Trudeau and Leonard Cohen chowed down as eagerly as any other diner closed yesterday after a lengthy strike.

Ben's De Luxe Delicatessen and Restaurant has been a fixture on the city's fabled smoked-meat circuit since it opened in 1908, known for its heaping plates of fatty beef served between two slices of rye.

Former prime ministers Trudeau and Paul Martin, entertainment czar Ed Sullivan and singer Cohen were among Ben's patrons. But then so was anybody looking for something to eat after a night on the town.

"Through those doors passed the entire 20th-century history of Montreal," the Kravitz family, which owns Ben's, said in a release. "The Kravitz's recognize this and are grateful for the unique experience."

The family says they reached a deal with a Montreal museum to preserve the souvenirs and pictures that decorated the restaurant during its 98-year history.

Originally founded by Ben and Fanny Kravitz, the restaurant was passed to their son, Irving, who died a few years ago. Irving's widow, Jane Kravitz, owns the shop with her son.

Ben's unionized employees went on strike in July, demanding a 40-cent raise over their average salary of $8 an hour. They also complained about working conditions.

The Kravitz family said they could not operate a profitable business in the current economic climate with unionized staff, but the union says the owners never had the intention of restoring the landmark to its former glory.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ben's Deli (Montreal)
From: number 6
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 10:57 AM

Sad.

I remember when Switzers move out of Spadina in Toronto.

.. or more recently here, in SJ, Reggie's a land mark Jewish deli sold out.

BiLL

Subject: RE: Obit: Ben's Deli (Montreal)
From: Peace
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 11:05 AM

BTW, Ben's was the only big restaurant that would hire people who were openly homosexual in a time when that was frowned upon even more than it is today. It served the best smoked meat in the city--although I know Schwartz's afficadios will argue that. I never visited Montreal without going to Ben's. I guess that'll change.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ben's Deli (Montreal)
From: Paul Burke
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 11:09 AM

Less than 4 quid an hour? If you can't run a business paying that, it's not viable.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ben's Deli (Montreal)
From: bobad
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 11:53 AM

FYI the minimum wage in Quebec is $7.75 per hour or $7.00 per hour for people who receive tips.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ben's Deli (Montreal)
From: gnu
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 03:28 PM

Ben's at midnight! If you could get a seat.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ben's Deli (Montreal)
From: bobad
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 03:32 PM

There was often a line-up at 3:00 A.M. when the bars closed.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ben's Deli (Montreal)
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 03:43 PM

It's always sad when something so familiar is no longer. Around here $8 per hour is way above the federal minimum wage of $5.15, but that's a sad state of affairs in itself.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ben's Deli (Montreal)
From: EBarnacle
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 08:07 PM

That's $8 Canadian, so it's a lot less.

Is this the same family referred to in "The education of Duddy Kravitz?"

Subject: RE: Obit: Ben's Deli (Montreal)
From: bobad
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 08:11 PM

The title of the Mordecai richler novel is "The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz" and being a novel it is fictitious. My wife went to school with a son of the owners, the novel is not based on that family.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ben's Deli (Montreal)
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 08:14 AM

" I remember when Switzers move out of Spadina in Toronto."

Same with Shopsy's. It moved to Yonge across from the O'Keefe Centre - now the Hummingbird Centre. It tried to go upscale and yuppie-ish and lost its soul. I miss the pan-fried kreplach in particular.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ben's Deli (Montreal)
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 10:02 PM

t served the best smoked meat in the city--although I know Schwartz's afficadios will argue that.

No! No! No!

Ben's smoked meat was chemically processed crap. It's status as an institution was strictly due to it's location in the centre of downtown and its late hours.

The best REAL smoked meat is Schwartz's. The only other places for the real deal are the Main across the street, Abie's on the West Island and Smoked Meat Pete's, just west of the island.

Ben's has been limping for years. It really died with the last of the Ben's sons about 15 or so years ago.

Bruce, get your ass to Montreal and we'll go for a real smoked meat.

Mike Regenstreif

Subject: RE: Obit: Ben's Deli (Montreal)
From: Peace
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 10:13 PM

Last time I was there was about 1984 or 5.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ben's Deli (Montreal)
From: bobad
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 11:28 PM

I got to agree with you Mike, and BTW Smoke Meat Pete's (notice it's smoke and not smoked - that's a signature Montreal thing) is owned and run by the son of the owner of the Main who showcases some pretty good music acts in his establishment.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ben's Deli (Montreal)
From: gnu
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 06:34 AM

After a few hours of club hopping in downtown Montreal, it tasted okay.

My reference was missed. Perhaps I should have posted, "Ben's at midnight, Darlin'?" Dance, drink, eat.....

Subject: RE: Obit: Ben's Deli (Montreal)
From: C. Ham
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 05:14 PM

The best smoked meat is definitely Schwartz's. The Main is a strong second. I haven't tried Abie's or Pete's. Maybe next time. I've seen Pete's from the highway on the way into Montreal and wondered how it was.

I had Ben's smoked meat a couple of times. The place, right out of the 1950's with it's celebrity wall was much more interesting than the food.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ben's Deli (Montreal)
From: bobad
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 05:18 PM

You can get a T-shirt at Pete's that says "You can't beat Pete's meat" on it.