Boustan
| Boustan | |
|---|---|
 Restaurant Boustan's original location at Crescent street corner De Maisonneuve | |
  | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1986 |
| Current owner(s) | George Hatzimargaritis |
| Food type | Lebanese |
| Street address | 2020A Crescent Street, 19 Ste Catherine E., 8000 Henri-Bourassa E., 1601 Daniel Johnson, 3980 St Jean Blvd. |
| City | Montreal |
| State | Quebec |
| Postal code/ZIP | H3G 2B8 |
| Country | Canada |
| Coordinates | 45°29′54″N 73°34′40″W / 45.498205°N 73.577825°W |
| Website |
boustan |
Boustan is a Lebanese-Canadian fast food restaurant in Montreal, Quebec. It was established in 1986.[1]
Boustan is the Arabic word for orchard.[2]
History
Imad Smaidi became the full-time owner of the restaurant, after being a silent partner.[2] Smaidi immigrated to Canada from Lebanon in 1972,[2] studied engineering at École Polytechnique de Montréal and worked for Philips before having to quit to run Boustan full-time.[2]
The restaurant moved several times before settling in its current location, 2020A Crescent Street in downtown Montreal.[2]
Boustan has been frequented by, among others, former Prime Minister of Canada Pierre Trudeau and the now current Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau.[2] and some of the rosters from the Montreal Canadiens and Montreal Alouettes.[1]
Smaidi was such a fixture he was popularly called "Mr. Boustan" instead of his real name. Tired from working 18-hour days, Smaidi put the restaurant up for sale in early 2011.[1][2][3] He eventually sold the restaurant to George and Peter Hatzimargaritis and Mario Daigneault on March 25, 2012 for an undisclosed sum.[1] The Hatzimargaritis, whom Smaidi trained for 6 months, vow to preserve the same recipes that repeat customers cherish.[1]
In 2014 Boustan opened a second location at 19 Ste Catherine East which serves the same menu as the original location.[4]
In 2015 Boustan opened its third and fourth locations in Anjou/RDP at 8000 Henri-Bourassa East and in Dollard Des-Ormeaux at 3980 boul St Jean which also serve the same menu as the original location.[4]
In 2016 Boustan opened its fifth location in Laval at 1601 Daniel Johnson corner St Martin.[5]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Brownstein, Bill (2012-03-25). "Popular Lebanese eatery changes hands". The Gazette. Postmedia Network. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Faure, Elizabeth (2011-05-03). "Bye bye Boustan?". Montreal Mirror. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
- ↑ Szuper, Victor (2011-02-01). ""Mr. Boustan" looking to sell". McGill Tribune. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
- 1 2 Hazan, Jeremy (2015-08-12). "Montreal's West Island To Open A Boustan Restaurant On St-Jean Blvd". MTL Blog. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
- ↑ Cipolla, Miranda (2016-02-08). "Montreal Is Opening An All-New Boustan Restaurant In Laval". MTL Blog. Retrieved 19 February 2016.