At La Diperie ice cream shop in Dollard-Des-Ormeaux (DDO), customers can choose their toppings and flavours for their soft serve, but they aren’t allowed to sit down and enjoy their cone.
It’s all due to a city bylaw that restricts seating capacity in the location where the shop is located.
Following a Global News report concerning La Diperie’s situation on Monday, there has been an outpouring of support from the community, followed by a visit from DDO mayor Ed Janiszewski to address the controversy.
READ MORE: DDO ice cream shop La Diperie gets cold shoulder from the city
The mayor’s visit took place behind closed doors and according to shop co-owner Carla Tabah, the meeting ended on an optimistic note.
“It did not start off well at all, but in the end, I think that the mayor rethought his stance,” Tabah said.
“I felt that there’s an opportunity for us to work together.”
Global News was at La Diperie when the mayor emerged from the meeting.
When asked if he thinks there is a solution that can work for everyone, the mayor said, “I hope so – we’re going to have a discussion at council, I’m not allowed to be a dictator.”
Tabah’s brother, Gary Tabah, was also present at the meeting.
“It’s not about dictatorship or anything, it’s about what best serves the community, what best serve the businesses,” he said.
A solution may be in the works, courtesy of the shop’s neighbour, a restaurant called Kitchen 73.
“Our friends next door close at 3 p.m.,” Carla Tabah said.
“They have made it very clear that they are willing to do whatever they can for us. So, we were saying ‘let us take six of their chairs, put them outside, let people sit.'”
In the meantime, customers are still frustrated.
“When I go for ice cream with my daughter, we come with our bikes and we don’t want to rush out with our bikes,” said Maggie Hamel, who was with her daughter, Maxine.
“We usually want to sit down, enjoy the ice cream.”
She pointed out that competing ice cream shops in the same location don’t seem to have the same issues.
“I know Baskin Robbins has benches and Dairy Queen also – I don’t know why we can’t have them here,” she said.
However, as it stands, La Diperie’s owners have been warned they’ll be fined if anyone sits on their benches, something Global News’ legal expert suggested was shocking.
“Giving a ticket to the owner of the establishment because they allow somebody to sit on a bench – it’s outrageous,” said lawyer Philip Schneider.
However, Schneider also noted if the shop is operating without a legal licence, the city has the option of shutting them down or compelling them to remove the benches so as not to mislead the public.
“All we want is an olive branch, something that makes things copacetic, for people feel that somebody is listening to them and helping,” Gary Tabah said.
Until council makes a decision on the matter, La Diperie’s owners said they hope for an outcome that will bring all the sides together in a harmonious way.
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