Typhoon Lounge

Mike Silas, the owner of a successful renovation company, noticed that there wasn't really a comfortable bar in his neighborhood where he could stop on his way home after a long day at work. Since he'd always dreamed of opening a bar, plans were soon in the works. He persuaded his brother Greg to join him and soon another friend, Frank Ditella, joined Mike as well. At the time, Greg and Frank were full-time chartered accountants and they made the opening their side project.

On a quiet stretch of Monkland Avenue on Montreal’s west side, Typhoon Lounge opened in 1997. As locals began pouring in, the founders quickly realized the bar could be more than just a hobby. Four years later, Greg and Frank took the plunge, leaving their accounting careers behind to devote themselves full-time to Typhoon.

Once it was established, Typhoon Lounge quickly became a popular gathering spot for locals looking for a comfortable place to get a drink, enjoy good food and watch a game. "Everyone likes to have a place close to home that they claim as their own," says Frank. “That’s what Typhoon Lounge is to the people of the area.”