Montreal's Maestro SVP Restaurant Targeted with Antisemitic Graffiti During Closure Announcement
In a disturbing incident that has shaken Montreal's culinary community, Maestro SVP, a long-standing oyster bar on St-Laurent Blvd., was vandalized with an antisemitic slur just weeks before its scheduled closure. Founder-owner Ilene Polansky discovered the offensive message scrawled on the restaurant's window, adding a painful layer to an already difficult period for the establishment.
A Personal Attack During Business Closure
Polansky had recently announced that Maestro SVP would be closing its doors in March due to declining business and other challenges on the Main. The antisemitic graffiti appeared on top of a sign announcing the restaurant's equipment sale, scheduled for after its closure in the third week of March. "Nothing like this has ever happened before over the three decades that Maestro SVP has been on the Main," Polansky stated, expressing her shock and disappointment.
The restaurant owner promptly filed a report with the SPVM's hate-crimes division, though she remains skeptical about the investigation's outcome. "The file has been sent to the right person, but the cop said it has only been five days and there are other files to deal with before," Polansky explained. She was further discouraged to learn that outdoor cameras in the area were not operational at the time of the incident.
Rising Tide of Antisemitic Incidents in Montreal
This incident reflects a troubling trend in Montreal and across Canada. According to Statistics Canada reports, Jewish individuals are now 25 times more likely than any other minority to be victims of hate crimes, often influenced by events in the Middle East. Montreal has experienced a sharp increase in antisemitic incidents in recent years, with schools, synagogues, and community centers being targeted.
Between October 2023 and October 2025, Montreal police documented 212 hate crimes and incidents specifically targeting Jewish community members. "It's just so sad," Polansky lamented. "This boulevard has been the place for so many Jewish and immigrant businesses over the years. It's where the dreams had started for so many. It's just heartbreaking to see that there is just so much hate out there."
Maestro SVP's Legacy and Challenges
Maestro SVP holds a special place in Montreal's restaurant history as the city's first all-purpose oyster bar, operating for 35 years with the last 32 on St-Laurent Blvd. The restaurant will serve its final oysters on March 22. Polansky cited multiple reasons for the closure, including changing neighborhood dynamics, physical strain from decades of shucking oysters, and safety concerns on the street.
"My feet hurt and my hands are arthritic after decades of shucking," the 64-year-old restaurateur explained. "It's time. My lease is over. Business is just not the same. I just can't see myself doing this for another 10 years." She also noted that the area has become "dangerous at times, with fights breaking out frequently at night," and described recent incidents of customers dining and dashing without paying their bills.
Defiance in the Face of Hate
Despite the hurtful incident, Polansky maintains a defiant spirit. She has considered writing the word "Fantastic" over the antisemitic slur on her window. "I won't be intimidated by hate. Never have, never will," she declared. "But the sad reality is I've become kind of numb to the hate going on everywhere."
The restaurant's closure marks the end of an era for a establishment that once attracted celebrities including Leonard Cohen, Jean Reno, Seth Rogen, and Guy Lafleur during the Main's heyday as Montreal's restaurant and club epicenter in the 1990s. As Maestro SVP prepares for its final days, the antisemitic vandalism serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing both small businesses and minority communities in contemporary urban environments.
