Why is Wellington Street the coolest in the world?
The Wellington Drive is bound to attract many tourists.
The Verdunluvis felt internationally as the media Time Outdeclared Wellington Street the most cool in the world. Métro went to meet some merchants to find out, according to them, why the Well is so swell.
Some 33 streets in the world are in the list and it is in Verdun that the palme d'or is awarded. This is the first time that a Canadian city has been included in this list, which is released annually. Last year, the high street winner was Smith Street in Melbourne, Australia.
How does the media, which works worldwide in urban discoveries, manage to establish its ranking? The Time Out polls 20,000 citizens of the world asking them to select the most cool streets in their opinion. Subsequently, local publishers of the media classify everything. They evaluate, among other things, the pleasure and the community spirit that one feels there, if one eats and drinks well, and if culture and art are generously valued there.
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Wellington Drive. /Josie Desmarais/Metro
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e Wellington. /Josie Desmarais/Metro
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Wellington Drive./Josie Desmarais/Metro
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e Wellington. /Josie Desmarais/Metro
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e Wellington./Josie Desmarais/Metro
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Wellington Drive. /Josie Desmarais/Metro
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e Wellington. /Josie Desmarais/Metro
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e Wellington./Josie Desmarais/Metro
That's all well and good, publishers and citizens of the world, but why according to the main stakeholders – the merchants of the Well – does the street deserve the gold medal?
Feel on vacation in Montreal
Feel the sea breeze in the heart of the city? It is possible on the Wellington. The beach is a short walk from the central street.
Manu Perrier, owner of the Café Le 5e and resident of Verdun for ten years, believes that “[the Well] has the air of the seaside”. “A guy walked past barefoot with his surfboard: you feel like you're on vacation,” he says.
Emé Tardif-Bennet and Manu Perrier from Café le 5e
Bernard Turcotte, owner of Les bons débarras bookstore, open since 2015 on the “coolest” thoroughfare», also thinks that the access to the water's edge gives the sector an inimitable uniqueness on the rest of the island of Montreal.
Bernard Turcotte from Les bons débarras bookstore
Community spirit
Verdun is a place that “brings people of all ages together and people help each other”, also notes Emé Tardif-Bennet, barista and manager of Café Le 5e, to explain the first place of the Well.
This can be seen in particular in the Facebook groups of the Verdun community, where people advise and support each other on a daily basis.
According to Neil Melendez, of the Social bar, Verdunois for 18 years, the diversity of the neighborhood is its strength. Wellington Street is also safe and the cohabitation between the different means of transport is done in goodwill, he rejoices.
Neil Melendez of the Social bar/Photo credits: Brian Crane
The variety of events, activities and businesses throughout the year
< p>“I think it's the busiest street at the moment, especially after COVID,” remarks David Asseraph, owner of the restaurant Comptoir 21, on the Well for eight years.
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Neil Melendez is also enthusiastic about the variety of activities that can be enjoyed there. As the Wellington Business Development Corporation is dedicated to boosting commercial and cultural life on Wellington with all manner of initiatives and events, the street is constantly in motion. “There was a parade of insects [giant puppets] for no other reason than to have a parade of insects”, mentions Emé Tarif-Bennet, laughing.
The vast choice of shops, cafes, bars and restaurants, all gathered in one place, also has something to satisfy both locals and visitors looking for a good dose of cool .
