December 15, 2006

Ben's, 1908 - 2006. Ben's Deli in Montreal is no more. One of the giants for smoked meat sandwiches along with (the better) Schwartz's and The Main, Ben's fell victim to the first strike in its history, where workers of 20, 30 and one of even 52 years' service were trying to get a forty-cent raise over just above Minimum.

Ben's best times were clearly behind it, when it would host celebrities and shady characters waiting for the late-night results on the ponies. (A lengthy shot of one such night appears in this early doc on Leonard Cohen.) A hangout for him, Richler, A.M. Klein, Frank Scott, Louis Dudek -- Ben's had a remarkable Poet's Corner set up by the kitchen, to go along with its innumerable photos of celebrity patrons of yesteryear, and for each ghost, an empty chair. Ben's glory days had long since passed, and in that way, typifies so much of Montreal itself. Another institution gone. Farewell to Ben Kravitz' place... you will be missed, formica counters, faded photos, breakneck stairs to the washrooms and all.

posted by Capt. Renault 18 years ago
  • It's a shame, but I haven't eaten at Ben's in years. It was an institution, but not really a great place for lunch in the past ten years. Schwartz's and The Main remain, however.
  • Apparently, according to a doc I heard on the ceeb the other day, the decline has much to do with the old owner passing away at about that time. The younger family members didn't want to put any effort or money into the business. And Schwartz's and The Main were better for smoked meat (but that's a matter of preference, really), but it was Ben's that had the history. And available seating.
  • The following will ignite flames from my Canadian friends, but it must be said: For those of you who are below the 49th parallel and are clueless as to what "Montreal Smoked Meat" might be, here's the skinny: think pastrami, but not as lean or as flavorful. Sort of a greasier cousin, perhaps better suited to accompany poutine. Tends to be served cut thin and stacked high like pastrami or corned beef at an actual deli, but...well, it's just smoked meat. Also: if you order a Reuben in Ontario it will most times come with smoked meat rather than corned beef, and will never include thousand island dressing. So, they are pretty much lost here. The beer makes up for it.
  • A $150-million, 28-floor office tower is planned for the area. A 98 year old deli is getting replaced with a big office tower? Ouch. Damn, that's terrible.
  • *flames RalphTheDog* You do not speak of the smoked meat like that. And corned beef is a vile abomination, only fit for dogs; pastrami is a gigantic practical joke, created to inflict the maximum amount of pain on someone who lived in Montreal and then moved away. Give me Schwartz's, or give me death. (It's a real shame to see Ben's go, but we were always a Schwartz's family, and that's where my heart lies - probably only went to Ben's once in my life, or something. Will be eating Schwartz's probably next Sunday, rah! With the pickles and the french fries and the lean sandwich (yes, a bit sacrilegious, I know) and being crammed into a long table with strangers and standing around outside in the cold first. Bliss).
  • workers of 20, 30 and one of even 52 years' service were trying to get a forty-cent raise over just above Minimum. Fifty-two fucking years??? Yeah, I'd say that history is interesting. No wonder the meat tasted so good--it was flavored with the sweat of the labor. Bastards.
  • Will be eating Schwartz's probably next Sunday, rah! I can only quote Koko. Only one question remains: Katz's or Schwartz's? Jury's still out on this one. Sadly, I never visited Ben's, though I never missed the chance to drop by Schwartz's. Mmmm. This post is making me miss North America something fierce.
  • My ma went to Ben's a lot when she was growing up in Montreal. True, Schwartz's and Dunn's had the better food, but Ben's had a cool historic feel to it, and it was easier to get to (at least for Concordia students like me). And as was pointed out previously, you didn't have to fight for a seat. I had a chance to go to Ben's for the first time in ten years last September, but I didn't want to cross the picket line. Looking at what the empolyees were up against, at least I feel like I made the right decision. Still, sad day.