Living downtown: interview with Paul-André Goulet, entrepreneur and resident

Paul-André Goulet has downtown Montréal inked on his heart. Born into a family of entrepreneurs from Sorel, he has vivid memories of his first visit downtown. Even today, he considers the neighbourhood to be the most invigorating and attractive, and the one that sparked his career. From his studies to his career in the family business Sports Experts, he tells of the great fascination the heart of the metropolis always inspired in him. This unique place gave him the wings to realize his ambitions.

Meet and get to know this businessman whose downtown adventure began in the very place he’s returning to meet us today: the Hiatus restaurant, formerly known as Le 737, in Place Ville Marie.

Downtown and the promise of great things

For this entrepreneur who grew up in the suburbs, downtown Montréal immediately symbolized the promise that everything in life is possible. That you can aim high, dream big, and live large.

That emotion, that first thrill, is still with him. After all, the place he discovered as a child with his mother has grown and evolved with him, so much so that it’s now part of his identity. Paul-André has lived and worked downtown for forty years, and in his own words, the place is a source of energy and renewal. He knows every nook and cranny. In his eyes, it’s an absolutely unique district that stands out from the rest of the world’s downtowns for its resolutely human feel.

A place that gives wings to ambition

Paul-André, seated at a table in the unique 46th-floor restaurant Hiatus, remembers his first contact with downtown, right here with his mother. At the age of eight, this Sorel-born child was already feeling the call of the Montréal metropolis. His mother would treat him to dinner at Place Ville Marie, then the highest point in the province. He remembers feeling at home from his first visit to Le 737, now Hiatus. The bird’s-eye view of downtown, with the river on the horizon, immediately gave him a sense of belonging.

Today, the entrepreneur remembers those magical days when he would pick out his Christmas present in the toy section of the Eaton store with stars in his eyes. Afterward, he would go for tea “à l’anglaise” on the 9th floor, which will reopen its doors in the spring of 2024.

But the real gift for him, above all, was to be right there in the middle of a dynamic, cosmopolitan downtown area that attracted him and called to him. Ambition burned in him, and downtown fanned its fire and inspired him. He still feels this way today.

Family and neighbourhood life

After studying downtown, Paul-André settled there. As he has found success in business here, he wants to give back. That’s why he gets involved personally, professionally, and as a volunteer.

This is where he has made his home and raised his family. For over twenty-five years, he ate every week at the Rotisserie italienne of Shaughnessy Village, a restaurant to which he remained faithful until the day it closed. His three children were born and raised in this neighbourhood. Paul-André is proud to have passed on his love of downtown to them through exploring the different neighbourhoods, experiencing the varied gastronomy, and taking them on many outings to the Quartier des spectacles.Today, shopping or having coffee on Sainte-Catherine Street are second nature for these regulars. Downtown is part of their DNA.