More Montreal Main Casualties

The road repairs continue on the Main, and so do the closings of small shops along the boulevard.

After 13 years on St. Laurent Boulevard, the Twistencore clothing boutique is putting away its designer frocks and vintage vests and closing down Saturday. Co-owner John says the ongoing roadwork has driven them out of business.

"Without the walk-in clients, there's really no reason to stay here."

And they're not the only ones; among those who have paid the price:  the Mondofrites restaurant and the Portuguese ceramic store at the Cooper Building.

As for compensation for those who tough it out until November when the work is supposed to end, the city has already said no.  Ville Marie mayor Benoit Labonte's own borough is just lightly impacted by the work.

  "We cannot do that because there's a lot of repairs to do everywhere in Montreal in our infrastructure.  If we begin some sort of compensation every time, it's very hard to draw the line where you stop and you open a box that you cannot financially sustain."

The city insists you can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs, promising patience will pay off with wider streets and sidewalks and better lighting.