Recent report from Montreal

[Colton]

Both bars were crowded last night. I surprisingly preferred Stock over Campus, and this may be the first time I can say that.  Campus was too crowded, and there was one point that Daddy’s Corner looked like it didn’t have a single guy.  Should have been called Ladies Corner. 

[EZEtoGRU]

Just back from a  four night trip to Montreal.  Weather was mostly good with the exception of some storms on Sunday and showers today Monday.   I noticed no smoke smell during my time there.  Things were active in The Village with lots of foot traffic.

I visited both Stock and Campus.  I was at Stock Thursday and Friday nights.  Stock is looking great with all the renovations.  Stock & Soda seems to be successful...at least now during the summer.  Plenty of folks sitting on the patio part on the street.  The inside VIP room (Stock Speakeasy?) was inaugurated on Friday.   Somehow, I managed not to check it out.  Oops!  I saw the new owner, Danny, who I remember from his bartender days.  He seemed really upbeat about everything.  DJ Anthony also made an appearance on Thursday for his hosting duties of the Studio Show.    Stock currently has more employees than I have ever seen previously.   The current level of business seems to support the increased number of staff.  Although, Thursday was relatively slow.  Things didn't really get going till after 11:00pm.  Note the weekly summer fireworks have been moved from Saturdays to Thursdays.  As a result, dancers and customers don't really start showing up to Stock till after 10:00.  They had 10-12 dancers there on Thursday and some didn't turn up till after 10:00pm.  So it was fairly slim pickings before 10:00pm.  Alex the bartender was on duty at the main bar by the shower stage.  He is always good fun.  I ended up hanging out with Jasper & Eric most of the evening.  It was good fun.  The crowd was mostly gay men.  Although there were a few ladies there, they did not make for an overpowering presence.

Friday was a very different night.  It  was, of course, much busier at Stock as a weekend night.  Also, the women were present in force.  It felt like a ladies night.  In fact, when I arrived around 8:30, I was advised that there was a special bachelorette-type party going on and that it would be over by 10:00pm.  It must have started at 6 or 7 cause at 8:30 it was already well underway.  Former Stock dancer Parker was the host and he had 2-3 non-Stock dancers plus Gatuso performing for the ladies.  Several of the bachelorettes were brought up on stage and given lap-dances.  It was kind of fun to watch from afar and I assumed they would clear out at 10:00pm.  Well this pre-show did end as scheduled  and the ladies were told that if they wanted to continue on at Stock, they would need to go out and pay the Stock cover-charge and re-enter.  It seems most of them did that and the female presence just grew larger as the night progressed.   All the chairs closest to the stage were occupied by females.  Men seemed to be in the minority in the bar.  The dancer line-up consisted of many attractive guys (Jo, Jasper, Vinny, Gatuso (from Tunisia), Barack (from Costa Rica), Bran, Denzel, Miguel, and Santiago).  There were a few others there as well which I would consider duds...at least for my taste.  Former Stock dancer Tyler also made an appearance as a customer.  We had a quick chance to catch-up since I had not seen him since before COVID.  He is not currently dancing anywhere.   I had fun both nights. at Stock.  

Thursday, I stopped in briefly at Campus between stays at Stock.  I seemed to be there during the transition from the day talent to the evening talent.  The daytime boys were largely forgettable in my view.  A few of the nighttime guys coming in looked interesting but I did not stay long enough to see any of them perform.  A couple of the daytime dancers were overly-aggressive which I did not appreciate.   Campus had roughly the same amount of clients on Thursday as Stock so , due to its smaller size, Campus appeared busier.  There was only a token presence of ladies at Campus on Thursday.

I returned to Campus on Saturday and what a difference.  It was packed with a whole lot more dancers.  Two very big body-builder types.  Also there were multiple muscular younger guys at Campus that seemed to be lacking at Stock.  I hung out with three dancers Saturday night and had great fun.   The bartender John was a hoot also.  He enjoyed gradually removing his clothes while working.    The former dancer red-headed Manager (I don't remember his name) was working Saturday and I had an opportunity to speak with him.  I told him I first saw him dancing way back when at West Side on Beaver Hall when they had strippers.  That's quite a few years ago now.  There were a few more women at Campus on Saturday than on Thursday but it did not feel overwhelming to me.

I did not go to the clubs on Sunday so nothing to report there.

My conclusions overall:

*  The Stock renovation looks wonderful and is bringing in increased business to Stock & Soda and also the main strip club.

*  Stock still has to work on getting the guys naked on stage.  There are multiple guys (mostly the newer ones) that do not get naked.  Some don't even flash their goods.

*  The dancer talent at Stock has improved over the last few months.  This is partially due to getting back some of the former Stock strippers that had stopped stripping or had moved to Campus.   That is all good, (and kudos to Stock management for achieving this) but Stock also needs to get some muscular younger talent .  We need to have some fresh younger faces to go along with the veterans.  

* Stock needs to get more dancers to come in earlier.  Many dancers not arriving till 10:00 or even 11:00pm  just doesn't work for me.  I like to start fairly early.  I really want to see most of the guys by 9:00pm so I can decide who to spend time with.  I would guess that most older customers 45+ (with bank in their pocket) would much prefer to have most dancers around  by 9:00pm rather than have to wait till 11:00pm to see the top guys.

*  The Women at Stock.  Something needs to be done about this.  I know it's a difficult issue as one cannot discriminate.   But the women on Friday (after the earlier bachelorette event)  were the dominant force for the entire night.  I wanted to tip one of the dancers on the stage and found it very difficult to even get close.  I was told Saturday night was similar at Stock.

I hope to return to Montreal this summer.  I really really don't want to be spending my gay dollars in Florida if I don't have to.  I am happy with the great progress at Stock in just three months but look for further improvements on the items highlighted above.  I really want to return more regularly if possible.

 

 

[+ tassojunior]

On 6/4/2023 at 5:32 PM, coriolis888 said:

"the scene has evolved and the venues have shape-shifted. Why is this so puzzling?"

I often travel to many different countries throughout the world. 

In Brazil, women do not go to gay men saunas.  Once in a rare instance a female will enter a male sauna but they are quickly encouraged to leave.  

In Barcelona, Sauna Thermas has never had a female customer that I have seen or heard of visiting the sauna. 

In Zurich, Paragonya has never had a female customer that I have seen or hear of visiting the sauna.

Yet, in Montreal, two formerly all gay night clubs (where one could choose between a "lap dance" or offer the provider to come to the clients' hotel or abode as a hustler) straight females have two and three days each week where they outnumber the gay male customers.    

Montreal has changed, without doubt.  

The part that is puzzling is HOW could straight women influence two major male gay clubs to have a "ladies night" and why would a "lady" be happy at a male gay facility?

 

This is hardly a new thing. Women have loved gay clubs for years and the last few years at Secrets DC there were always a dozen or two dozen young women on any night. Strip clubs for women is an equality thing. Girls love it because they're the center of attention, especially for pussy-starved dancers. Ultimately though the dancers do not like the women customers as they do not tip hardly at all but expect to monopolize the dancer's time. Encouraging more women customers is bad for the dancers even if it sells more booze for the bar.

[EZEtoGRU]

It's a relatively recent thing for Montreal.  For many years, women were not allowed into Stock or Campus except on the designated Ladies Night once per week at each club.  Both bars strictly enforced these rules.  Then the bars started relaxing the rules to allow ladies on other nights maybe a year before COVID.  Even then, it was nothing like what I just witnessed on Friday night.  So things certainly have evolved on this issue in Montreal.  

[gn233]

Fireworks and then dancers in speedos. It's gonna be a good night!

[Kalypso_Dee]

 

I hope, I'm able to get in Stockbar and Campus during the busy pride weekend. It's always packed during pride weekends, back in the days , when  it was strictly men. Now, it will get crazy pack with both men and women coming in full force on pride weekend.  Hopefully, the line to get in at both Stockbar and Campus will not be too long on pride weekend.

I hope all my favorite dancers at Stocbar are there on pride weekend (Gatuso, Bran, Leondro, Santiago). Gatuso is looking hotter than ever. He looks so awesome in his jockstrap back in 2022.  I love when he does that split move on the bar in his sexy jockstrap. The view is just breathtaking. Wow, his booty  looks  absolutely incredible. He's one sexy Canadian. 

One more thing, Stockbar you need to bring back Jay (ASAP). I noticed the last time he danced at Stockar was  in early May 2023. Hopefully, he will make a special appearance at the club on pride wekend.

[+ Bryan Dube]

i'm excited to hear all the reports from mtl pride celebrations 🥳

[Sydneysider]

On 7/2/2023 at 11:11 PM, Hhuu said:

How does Eric’s current physique look?

I loved Eric. I had two privates with him in 2016. Alas, he wasnt there when i returned in 2022. But im glad he's back again.

[Colton]

How slow do the clubs get when the weather turns cold?  I've only been to MTL in June and July.  Debating whether it makes sense to go in October.

[jerryskater]

Montreal 8/18/23 – 8/21/23

This post is way past due – Sorry.

 Hyatt Place (formerly The Gouverneur)

My husband and I have stayed here and its predecessor for many years.  The current incarnation is clean with modern somewhat cold décor. I don’t think we will be staying there again because the room design flaws got on our nerves this time. See https://www.companyofmen.org/topic/142770-hotels-montreal/?do=findComment&comment=2129974

 Breakfast room very crowded and lots of children.  Only one station to get coffee which creates a line.  Food just OK.

 Homeless situation

Homelessness is a problem in many cities in the U.S, and Canada so it is no shock to see it in Montreal.  Not only in the Village but in the old town as well.

 We didn’t see many homeless around the hotel.  The bank on the corner now has a guard which keeps them from sitting on the steps.  The city over the last few years has reconfigured the park across the street to make it more inviting to passersby. Fewer homeless are gathering there.  Don’t know why.  Perhaps increased police presence.

 We did encounter homeless on St. Catherine Street but no one bothered us.  Still, it is a real problem. The media reported in late July that several establishments closed their “terrasses” because patrons were harassed and afraid to eat outside. The mayor held a news conference and promised more police and social services so they reopened them. 

 https://montreal.citynews.ca/2023/06/22/village-issues-mayor-plan/

 Report of attack on shop owner September 2,2023

 https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/restaurant-owner-says-she-and-her-husband-were-attacked-on-their-terrace-in-montreal-s-village-1.6546254

 We did not see an increased police presence.  If anything, it seemed like fewer police then in past years.  We did not feel safe walking St. Catherine Street particularly the blocks just before Taboo and along the park next to it.

 There is no easy answer.

 The Village

The Village has not recovered from the disaster of Covid-19.  We found conditions have not improved in the year since our last visit.  Many restaurants and stores have not reopened.

 Here’s an article from the Dawson College Newsletter I found touching because we used to east in Mozza a lot:

 https://www.theplantnews.com/post/the-gay-village-no-longer-gay

 Something that I think would restore some of the joy would be the replacement of the overhead “18 Shades of Gay”.  Lots of tourists of all persuasions visited to take selfies.  There were plans for a replacement but I don’t know what happened.  Probably lack of funds.

 The Bars

We went to Taboo every night because we enjoy twink types.  There were 10-12 dancers Thursday-Saturday.  Sunday was absolutely dead only one dancer and maybe six patrons including us.

 Dancers were OK.  Some a little heavier than ideal. One blonde from Nova Scotia (I think) was spectacular.  He danced fully nude. The trend continues that the majority of dancers DID NOT dance fully nude. All that we chose for private lap dances were great.

 Stopped by Campus twice in the afternoon and there were no dancers each time and few patrons.  I wonder how it is worth their while to open in the afternoon.  Tried once at around 7 PM and there were still no dancers.  One we met outside was just arriving and said things got started around 8 PM.

 Will we be returning?

Probably, unless reports get worse.  We have been going every summer since 1989 and have so  many good memories of places, restaurants, and yes, dancers.  I hope that the Village will once again return to its vibrant self.

 

 

Edited September 5, 2023 by jerryskater

[Luv2play]

I have basically given up on the Village and that is saying something since I bought a condo there in 1998  and kept living there part time for the next thirteen years. It was a great time but unfortunately all good things come to an end. 

Now when I visit I stay downtown and hire escorts. Sometimez go to the Village in the daytime but never at night. And I am finding more escorts now live outside the Village if I go to their places. And these neighbourhoods are becoming more nice as the Village declines.

Verdun is a case in point as is Hochelage Maisoneuve. Of course Le Plateau started getting nicer even when I lived in Montreal.  

I do attribute the prevalence of drugs being behind the Village's problems. 

[coriolis888]

2 minutes ago, Luv2play said:

I have basically given up on the Village and that is saying something since I bought a condo there in 1998  and kept living there part time for the next thirteen years. It was a great time but unfortunately all good things come to an end. 

I do attribute the prevalence of drugs being behind the Village's problems. 

I agree with you about the drugs and; all good things come to an end.    

I used to visit the Village a couple of times each month for several years.  Then the drug trade came to the village, clubs and also to the streets.  I believe the drugs started strong just across the street, in plain sight, from the park that could be seen from the former Gouverneur Hotel. 

From the Gouverneur Hotel, you could watch from your window or from the front entrance of the hotel and see drug sales take place.   

Over a short period of time, fun places in the Village began to change and/or close.   

I stopped visiting Montreal for other places. 

Like you said, all good things come to an end. 

Restaurant owner says she and her husband were attacked on their terrace in Montreal's Village

MONTREAL.CTVNEWS.CA

---

The owner of a dumpling restaurant in Montreal’s Village neighbourhood says she and her husband were attacked on their terrace earlier this week...

 

[cany10011]

3 hours ago, jerryskater said:

Montreal 8/18/23 – 8/21/23

This post is way past due – Sorry.

 Hyatt Place (formerly The Gouverneur)

My husband and I have stayed here and its predecessor for many years.  The current incarnation is clean with modern somewhat cold décor. I don’t think we will be staying there again because the room design flaws got on our nerves this time. See https://www.companyofmen.org/topic/142770-hotels-montreal/?do=findComment&comment=2129974

 Breakfast room very crowded and lots of children.  Only one station to get coffee which creates a line.  Food just OK.

 Homeless situation

Homelessness is a problem in many cities in the U.S, and Canada so it is no shock to see it in Montreal.  Not only in the Village but in the old town as well.

 We didn’t see many homeless around the hotel.  The bank on the corner now has a guard which keeps them from sitting on the steps.  The city over the last few years has reconfigured the park across the street to make it more inviting to passersby. Fewer homeless are gathering there.  Don’t know why.  Perhaps increased police presence.

 We did encounter homeless on St. Catherine Street but no one bothered us.  Still, it is a real problem. The media reported in late July that several establishments closed their “terrasses” because patrons were harassed and afraid to eat outside. The mayor held a news conference and promised more police and social services so they reopened them. 

 https://montreal.citynews.ca/2023/06/22/village-issues-mayor-plan/

 Report of attack on shop owner September 2,2023

 https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/restaurant-owner-says-she-and-her-husband-were-attacked-on-their-terrace-in-montreal-s-village-1.6546254

 We did not see an increased police presence.  If anything, it seemed like fewer police then in past years.  We did not feel safe walking St. Catherine Street particularly the blocks just before Taboo and along the park next to it.

 There is no easy answer.

 The Village

The Village has not recovered from the disaster of Covid-19.  We found conditions have not improved in the year since our last visit.  Many restaurants and stores have not reopened.

 Here’s an article from the Dawson College Newsletter I found touching because we used to east in Mozza a lot:

 https://www.theplantnews.com/post/the-gay-village-no-longer-gay

 Something that I think would restore some of the joy would be the replacement of the overhead “18 Shades of Gay”.  Lots of tourists of all persuasions visited to take selfies.  There were plans for a replacement but I don’t know what happened.  Probably lack of funds.

 The Bars

We went to Taboo every night because we enjoy twink types.  There were 10-12 dancers Thursday-Saturday.  Sunday was absolutely dead only one dancer and maybe six patrons including us.

 Dancers were OK.  Some a little heavier than ideal. One blonde from Nova Scotia (I think) was spectacular.  He danced fully nude. The trend continues that the majority of dancers DID NOT dance fully nude. All that we chose for private lap dances were great.

 Stopped by Campus twice in the afternoon and there were no dancers each time and few patrons.  I wonder how it is worth their while to open in the afternoon.  Tried once at around 7 PM and there were still no dancers.  One we met outside was just arriving and said things got started around 8 PM.

 Will we be returning?

Probably, unless reports get worse.  We have been going every summer since 1989 and have so  many good memories of places, restaurants, and yes, dancers.  I hope that the Village will once again return to its vibrant self.

 

 

I was there that weekend too - stayed on the 19th til 22nd.b Got a nice upgrade to the top floor with a corner view. I think the hotel is OK. It was my first time there. Enjoyed Au Pied de Cochon, Le Cadet and Joe Beef. Went to Stock and found it dominated by women. Didn’t like the vagrants in the Village. The hotel was fine for what it was. There was another coffee station at the front of the hostess stand so it didn’t bother me that there was only 1 official one in the restaurant proper. Probably will go back for a Winter festival. 

Edited September 6, 2023 by cany10011

[RealAvalon]

On 6/4/2023 at 1:37 PM, coriolis888 said:

Maybe the answer is somewhere in the above posts of other threads. 

However, I am puzzled why females (Ladies nights) would want to go to male gay facilities that make the bulk of its revenue from gay male customers.

The size of the city of Montreal must have many "straight" bars and night clubs where women could find enjoyment.  Why would a straight woman habitually go to a club that was established for the use of gay men?

What am I missing, just curious?
   

Almost all the dancers are straight. One of my buddies that danced at Stock, his girlfriend didn't want him working on their Ladies Night, which I think was Wednesday night. I could be wrong on the day of the week though. 

[+ newatthis]

13 hours ago, jerryskater said:

 Will we be returning?

Thanks very much for the report.  Pretty much tallies with my experience in June.  The same nostalgia that you spoke of will keep me going back, too, though I am cutting back to once a year.  Previously I was going every June and August (and when I first discovered Montreal, and on through the great years around 2006-7, I could be found there 3-4 times a year!).

[Alfstoria]

i started so late :I

I still have a few regulars, approximately three of them, but I wish I could have been there in the past. The earliest visit I made to Montreal was back in 2016. I also wish the location was closer for a more convenient drive. I enjoy spending time with the boys at the Campus bar. During my last visit to Stock Bar, one of my private declined a private session unexpectedly. It was a surprising turn of events. He was very nice but first time i dont see him in my hotel - Jasper, it is the only one from the Stock Bar that i liked.  Bran is cute but doesnt do it for me, anymore. the same with the 2 remaining ones that have dark hair

Jasper has such a nice one; i am wondering if social media exposure may make him less social. i found him once in my IG, apologizing for a drama, so i skipped him

All my boys from Taboo are gone, the rough young skater boy that i met there, no more, it is mostly for someone who like twink in the bottom side of the scale.  I am still stop by and buy a couple of drinks, but it is so off my route that it takes a lot of energy, i alwasy go there by Uber. i am too old to walk from Campus to Taboo. 

[jerryskater]

3 hours ago, Alfstoria said:

i am too old to walk from Campus to Taboo. 

This year I finally realized I am too. My husband and I will be rethinking how we get around.

[EZEtoGRU]

On 9/6/2023 at 7:31 PM, Alfstoria said:

 During my last visit to Stock Bar, one of my private declined a private session unexpectedly. It was a surprising turn of events. He was very nice but first time i dont see him in my hotel - Jasper, it is the only one from the Stock Bar that i liked.  

Jasper has such a nice one; i am wondering if social media exposure may make him less social. i found him once in my IG, apologizing for a drama, so i skipped him

 

Jasper has such a beautiful big uncut cock.   Always gets hard without a problem.  

[Kalypso_Dee]

New management team at Stockbar is doing a great job with bringing in some new big muscle studs. First it was Felix, now a new big muscle stud made his debut Sunday night at Stockbar. He's super hot,big muscles, beautiful booty, and very well endowed. I don't know his name, but he made his first appearance on Sunday night, and wore a really nice red shirt. He's a very sexy guy, and a great dancer. We did get to see a little bit of his big erected penis in the prep room, but he then pulled a Gatuso (flip the chair) after Leandro came in and told him something (probably about the camera in the prep room). I was so disappointed when he turned the chair and showed us his back while stroking it for his second dance.

I'm going to give him a pass because he's very hot, and he's a new dancer. But, if he's going to do that in the future, it's much better that he doesn't go in the prep room at all. If you decide to go in, don't be shy about showing it all. You can either go in or don't go at all. It's cool if you don't go in the prep room at all , half the dancers don't go there. But going in the prep room is a great way to build up your customer base. Plus going in and then turning your back to the viewers  watching is a buzz killer, and may rub some potential customers the wrong way.

[gn233]

Jay and Ryan are both gone from Stock. Those were main dancers for the past years. Anyone seen them at Campus?

[Poppie]

Several GREAT additions to the dancer line up on the front page of their website 😛

With any luck, I'll bump into a few of them next time I'm in town !

[EZEtoGRU]

20 hours ago, gn233 said:

Jay and Ryan are both gone from Stock. Those were main dancers for the past years. Anyone seen them at Campus?

Ryan is scheduled to be Thursday's Studio Show at Stock.

[gn233]

2 hours ago, EZEtoGRU said:

Ryan is scheduled to be Thursday's Studio Show at Stock.

Yes they frequently have old dancers in the Studio. He is not dancing there for many months and is removed from the line up on the website. 

[Kalypso_Dee]

Yeah, what happened to super hot jock Jay? He danced at Stockbar for about 1 year. The last time I saw him dancing at Stockbar was  Late May 2023. I wonder if he moved on to Campus temporarily.

[gn233]

3 hours ago, Kalypso_Dee said:

Yeah, what happened to super hot jock Jay? He danced at Stockbar for about 1 year. The last time I saw him dancing at Stockbar was  Late May 2023. I wonder if he moved on to Campus temporarily.

Jay was there for way longer than a year, he started pre-covid even. He had the best ass in the place, he will be missed.