Montreal business owners thrilled Grand Prix race weekend is back in full force

After years of pandemic-related slowdowns, Montreal business owners are ready to go from neutral to drive.

Businesses are preparing for the hundreds of thousands of tourists, race car aficionados and all-around speed junkies descending on the city this week for the Canadian Grand Prix.

The race was open to fans last year after being cancelled in 2020 and 2021, but some business owners told CityNews it feels different this year – back to how it once was.

“I feel the hype,” said Max Bitton, the owner of Fanabox, an F1 merchandise store in Old Montreal. “The fever is back for the race and it’s always a blessing because it kicks off the summer in Old Montreal.”

Added Annie Bitton of Fanabox: “We see people we haven’t seen since the prior years. So it’s nice to see them every year. They’re like family.”

“I think this year here is going to be the busiest one since we’ve come back from COVID,” said David Mariani of Café Olimpico. “And every business profits from it, everyone’s happy. Sometimes it’s a little bit too much work, but that’s a good problem.”

Foot traffic, especially in areas like downtown and Old Montreal, is expected to be high over the course of the weekend – with car traffic usually at a gridlock on the streets.

RELATED: Closures, traffic expected throughout Grand Prix weekend

Drivers are being advised to ditch their cars in favour of public transportation or bicycling.

“There’s already this traffic all the time, plus construction, plus a heavy flux of people coming into the city. It’s much better to just walk,” said Mariani.

Formula One fans are already arriving in the city – from all over the world – with festivities kicking off Thursday before really getting into gear over the weekend.

“Everyone that asked me, have you come here for the Grand Prix? They say they see the heat and everything. They ask for our favourite drivers and everything. We are feeling it,” one race fan from the Dominican Republic told CityNews.

“I’m excited,” added another from India. “I’ve already got my jacket.”

“I’ve been watching Formula One for a number of years and this is the first time I’ve ever got to see it live, so I’m really excited,” said a Vancouver resident.

Days away from the infamous “lights out and away we go” – the rallying call of F1 fans around the world – one visitor from California had one wish for the race.

“Excitement,” he said. “I want it to be an electric race.”