‘The credit card is crying right now’: Habs playoff run fuels spending spree for Quebecers

The Montreal Canadien’s playoff run has helped fuel business across the city, with bars, restaurants and retailers all benefiting from ‘Habs fever’. With the team on the brink of elimination in Game 5, many are hoping Friday night’s match won’t be the end of the boost.

On Crescent Street, bars and restaurants have found themselves packed as fans gather to cheer on the Canadiens. Morrie Baker, owner of Burger Bar Crescent, says the energy has been good for business, even if spending hasn’t fully returned to its pre-pandemic peak.

“They’re not quite up to their spending habits of 2019, but we’re trying to rebound,” Baker said. “Each game is kind of like a mini little festival – for every goal, there’s shots being ordered and everyone cheers.” He added, “and with every goal against, we all groan and sip our beer slowly.”

In celebration and in sorrow, the Canadian hockey team has united Montreal.

Ziggy Eichenbaum, owner of Ziggy’s Pub says fans who might have watched from home are now coming out in droves. “It’s the fever that’s in everybody right now to come out and enjoy,” he said.

Eichenbaum says spending is up about 60% on average for this time of year.

The trend extends beyond the bar and restaurant scene. At Sports Crescent, manager Santana Enrique says demand for Canadiens merchandise has surged, but supply is running low. With jersey shirts manufactured overseas, a potential run to the finals could leave shelves bare for months.

Workers across the city say they’re seeing the same pattern: longer nights, higher bills and bigger spending. Mamadou Sy, a doorman at the Montréal Marriott Château Champlain says, “Every time the Canadiens play, we kind of rub our hands together here.”

The numbers back it up. According to a Léger survey conducted for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, nearly one in five Quebecers say they’re spending more at local businesses during the playoffs, almost one in four among hockey fans. The survey also found 34 per cent are buying more food and drinks for game nights, 28 per cent are going out to bars and restaurants, and about one in four are purchasing Canadiens merchandise.

For fans on the street, the spending has been hard to hold back. “The credit card, the bank card are crying right now, let me tell you — but listen, we’re all here, we’re all in good spirit, we all want us to win,” said Montrealer Brandon Cote.

Ryan Zeybek says he spent $250 dollars to buy his first real jersey in 30 years for this playoff run.

Phil Ghazal admitted last night’s loss led to some regrettable spending. “There’s a lot of fanfare and, you know, you tend to spend more. I probably spent more than I wanted to,” he said. “It was a little disappointing drowning in sorrow.”

Whether the playoff buzz carries into a Game 6 remains to be seen. For Baker, the draw is simple: “It’s dragging them out. It’s a reason to get out, like, why be at home when you could be out with people celebrating, cheering, commiserating? It’s fun.”