Bar-B-Barn
For 53 years, Bar-B-Barn brought together Montrealers from all walks of life. In 1967, Manny Barnoff opened the iconic ribs and chicken restaurants that generations of Montrealers would soon consider a second home. After a slow start, Barnoff’s best friend, Mike O’Toole, suggested he invest as much as possible in radio and newspaper ads. Barnoff’s personality especially shone through his regular radio spots, where he would encourage listeners to drop in and inform the staff that “Manny had sent them.” His warm, welcoming character immediately charmed customers, and Bar-B-Barn took off.
La Presse, October 19, 1978: an ad describing the fare and décor
With its unique yellow and brown colour scheme, Bar-B-Barn was a recognizable landmark for locals and visitors alike. Inside, it had a kitschy country charm, with wood-panelling and a Western theme. The walls were adorned with pictures of famous patrons who had enjoyed the restaurant’s famous fall-off-the-bone ribs and juicy chicken. It was an especially popular spot for pre- or post-hockey game meals and welcomed many famous Habs players like Guy Lafleur, Larry Robinson, and Guy Lapointe. On game nights, lineups were out the door. The famous visitors weren’t just hockey players: according to Manny Barnoff’s son, Rusty Staub, Steve Rogers, Felipe Alou, and the Expos would swing by after their games and the Alouettes often joined the party. Media personalities and sportswriters mingled with the players and the regulars, creating a fun and rowdy atmosphere. Musicians, too: a writer for the underground music newspaper Pop Jeunesse Rock recalls in the December 1976 issue that Lynyrd Skynyrd visited the famous barbecue spot after a record company party in their honour. Visitors never knew which famous face they’d spot at this legendary hangout.
A 1983 TV ad with radio personality Ralph Lockwood
Aside from its star-studded reputation, Bar-B-Barn felt like a family restaurant. Bar-B-Barn’s last owner, Tom McQueen, reported that he received numerous calls from shocked regulars when he announced that the restaurant would be closing. Many had been eating at Bar-B-Barn since their childhood, and the spot had a nostalgic, warm place in their heart. They were treated like family— Barnoff even seemed to give regulars the recipe for the restaurant’s famous sauce upon request! The restaurant was like a family business, too. Although Tom McQueen isn’t technically Manny Barnoff’s son, the owner took McQueen under his wing when he was only nine years old and was like a father to him. When he was 15, McQueen started working at the restaurant and would continue for another 40 years. He eventually took over Bar-B-Barn and was under direct orders never to sell. “It’s family only,” as per Barnhoff’s instructions.
It would take a larger-than-life force to close Bar-B-Barn: the COVID-19 pandemic. After shuttering the restaurant for three months, it wasn’t financially feasible to reopen the cozy space with the required sanitary and physical distancing measures. A new layout would have dramatically cut the restaurant’s capacity and left the business almost empty. The lack of hockey games and tourism was the last straw. After half a century of smoky ribs and loyal patrons, Bar-B-Barn’s reign as a Montreal institution ended in June 2020, marking the close of a delicious era for the city’s BBQ lovers.
Our sincere thanks to Concordia staffers Dominique Dumont, Rosie Elman, and Philippe Beauregard for their help in saving these signs. We have been unable to determine where, exactly, they were installed (if at all), but we still think they vividly capture the essential ‘larger-than-life’ feel of Bar-B-Barn, particularly the use of Western-style fonts in all caps, and a bright yellow-and-black/brown colour scheme.
Writing and research by Marie Bernard-Brind’Amour
Sources
Brownstein, B. (2020, June 17). Brownstein: Bar B Barn closes, but memories stick like ribs. Montreal Gazette.
Brownstein, B. (2024, March 4). Brownstein: Another legendary resto closing as Bar B Barn owner retires. Montreal Gazette.
CBC. (2020, June 17). With too little space for physical distancing, Bar-B Barn closes downtown location. CBC News.
Global News. (2020, June 17). Montreal restaurant Bar-B Barn closes after marathon run. Global News.
Global News. (2024, March 5). ‘This place is family’: Legendary Montreal restaurant Bar-B Barn closing its doors for good. Global News.
hifichet (Director). (2010, November 21). Bar-B-Barn (Publicité Québec) [Video recording].
Ross, S. (2020, June 17). Downtown Montreal institution Bar-B Barn has closed, leaving fans bereft. CTVNews.
