Atop Montreal’s Eaton Centre visitors will find the newly restored Ninth Floor Restaurant, more commonly known in Montreal as “Le 9e”.

 

In 1927, Eaton’s first store opened its doors on Sainte-Catherine Street West, and during a substantial expansion in 1930-31, the 600-seat restaurant was added to the store’s many attractions, quickly becoming an important cultural landmark. French architect Jacques Carlu developed the restaurant’s aesthetic, which took after the Streamline Moderne style of Art Deco, the interiors decorated with beautiful furnishings evoking old trains and ocean liner ships. Over the years, the restaurant underwent transformations but always retained its historical charm. The preservation of this architectural gem remained a concern even following the closure of the Eaton chain in 1999. In 2000, it was designated as a historic monument, but anxieties regarding its neglect and the resulting loss to the city’s heritage continued to grow.

 

In March 2023, property owner Ivanhoé Cambridge announced plans for the restaurant’s revival. After so many years in limbo, the restaurant reopened its doors in April 2024, following elaborate renovations aimed at restoring its luxurious Art Deco atmosphere. The revitalized space now features not only a restaurant but also a versatile area for various events, ensuring its relevance for generations to come. This reopening is both an important culinary revival and a celebration of Montreal’s past.