Montreal’s event game is about to level up. In a cavernous warehouse, the historical site of a 19th century shipyard, something very special is coming together…
Enter La Nesra, Montreal’s first major venue run by event producers, for event producers. Taking over a space formerly managed by the world-renowned Arsenal Contemporary Art centre, a stone’s throw from Georges-Vanier metro, La Nesra aims to fill what its founders see as a glaring gap in Montreal’s venue market. While the city does have its share of 1000+ person event halls, few are purpose-built, planner-friendly, and production-ready—and most are booked up many months in advance.
This gap, and its impacts on the city—with some major artists skipping Montreal on their tours due to lack of suitable venues—translated into a sense of an opportunity waiting to be seized for La Nesra’s founding team. Owners Adam Bultz (owner, C3 Events) and Lorne Levitt (owner, Total Events) joined forces during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the event sector as we knew it ground to a demoralizing halt. Rather than wait it out, the duo decided to adapt to this new reality, launching the open-air Royalmount Drive-in as well as Jardin Royalmount together producing over 300 nights of events, galas , weddings, film screenings, concerts (hello, Deadmau5?), and other social distancing-friendly events.
They then linked up with Adam Mariani (owner, Brera Food Group), a heavyweight in the catering world, to complete the trio that would form the leadership team behind La Nesra.
In a highly competitive sector, this rare “dream team” boasts over six combined decades of experience at the highest levels of the industry—with clients like Emirates, Deloitte and others —and shares their expertise freely with their clients. In contrast to the layers of bureaucracy that characterize similar-sized venues in Montreal, La Nesra’s powerhouse executive team remains deeply involved in the day-to-day operations of the project, frequently working directly with rental clients to ensure things run smoothly.
“We’ll be as involved as you want us to be in your planning,” explains owner Adam Bultz in an interview with Salle Privée.
At its core, the Nesra project aims to honor the entrepreneurial heritage of the space it occupies, according to Bultz, where a vertically-integrated production chain once saw ships assembled top-to-bottom to deploy directly onto the Lachine Canal. The goal is efficiency, innovation and ambition, with their experienced team ready to accommodate large-scale events of any kind.
“The answer is always yes,” Bultz told us with a smile. “We’ll hand you the keys to a venue that is ready to go.”
From the rigging grid, to the modular 32-foot curtain system, to the catering kitchen, to the industrial electricity supply, to the abundant on-site parking (a rarity in downtown Montreal), the venue was set up with the ease of event planners and their staff in mind.
The “blank canvas” philosophy behind the design of the space makes it perfect for complex conferences and galas, Levitt’s area of expertise, with several household names already planning their seasonal events. The presence of massive ground-level garage doors means that cars and trucks can cruise right onto the venue floor, quickly making La Nesra a sought-after location for high-end automotive events.
Mariani, a seasoned veteran of the catering world, ensures that bespoke menu packages are always on point, in close collaboration with iconic chef Jon Bloom. However, flexibility is one of the project’s guiding principles: nothing is set in stone at La Nesra other than the floor itself, so clients can always bring their own suppliers should they choose to. This is a breath of fresh air in an industry where non-negotiable exclusivities are commonplace.
The space officially opens its doors on March 1, with a calendar that is already filling up fast with expos, launches, weddings, galas and the like. Four main room styles are offered to clients: cocktail, reception, theatre, and cabaret, each with its capacity and configuration, but like everything else at La Nesra these aren’t imposed, but rather helpfully offered.
Think La Nesra could be right for one of your event projects? You can learn more about the project at lanesra.ca, or request a free quote for your event at salleprivee.ca.
