The Gerts Bar & Café under the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) remains closed with the start of the school year because of concerns regarding its space in the University Centre. Expected to open by the end of the semester, the café will move to the Centre’s first floor, where Les fermes du marché previously had its store—the bar will remain in the basement space.

SSMU Vice-President Sustainability and Operations Meg Baltes explained in an email on Sept. 24 to McGill undergraduates that “Gerts underwent significant foundational and structural changes, facing several challenges” over the summer. Gerts was overhauled in the summer after encountering infrastructural challenges with the basement space. She clarified these issues in an interview with The Tribune.

“[Electric and network problems are] big issue[s] in terms of how many things we have operating in one space. Like how many things are connected to the network, how many plugs you have—the building details,” Baltes explained. “A lot of [the reason why] Gerts is closed for maintenance is to make sure we have all of the physical space up to code, getting a new dishwasher, glassware washers, and getting the fridges operational.”

Gerts’ point-of-sale systems, which process payments, are currently at system capacity, delaying the venue’s reopening. According to Baltes, a new McGill regulation is also complicating the systems’ improvement as they are now unable to make purchases under the McGill network. Safety concerns regarding the electric and plumbing infrastructure are further delaying the reopening, as Baltes wants to avoid any harm caused to students by faulty systems. 

Furthermore, Baltes stated that this closure was unplanned and only occurred after assessing what the venue needed, impacting employees’ possible return to their job. Due to the closure’s unexpected nature, Gerts employees were unaware until Baltes informed them over the summer. 

“None of our contracts are guaranteed,” Baltes explained. “So just because you worked at Gerts last semester, we don’t guarantee any contracts for the [next] semester—that’s just the business model. The [former employees] are aware, and they were as up to date as I was.”

Baltes also apologized for not informing students about Gerts’ closure at the beginning of the semester. She stated she hoped to have new information that would inform her and the student body of an exact timeline for reopening. 

Regardless, Baltes stated that she has plans to improve Gerts after it relocates. Her priorities for the new Gerts location are student engagement and safety, as one of the issues Gerts currently faces is the inability to serve anyone under 18, regardless of whether they order alcohol.

“There was a sign next to the register that said ‘please note that we cannot serve under 18,’ even for just the café,” Baltes said. “That was a big barrier to accessibility. If you were a first-year, you couldn’t even get a coffee and hang out in the space.”

Some students worry that Gerts’ closure, which has been a lively fixture on campus for decades, will negatively impact McGill’s student culture.

“I was disappointed when I heard they were closed,” Ryan Dvorak, U2 Science, wrote to The Tribune. “I was looking forward to watching some local bands play on campus this semester and was even thinking about playing on the stage myself.”

Quang-Hai Francis Dinh, U3 Science, shared the same sentiment as Dvorak, emphasizing that Gerts is a place for students to congregate.

“I do recognize the importance of having a bar on campus, for socializing, relaxing, and de-stressing,” Dinh wrote to The Tribune. “It’s definitely not a good feeling to lose one of the few dedicated chilling spots on campus [….] Everyone is definitely slightly bummed by [the closure].”

As a student herself, Baltes is committed to prioritizing Gerts’ reopening to reinvigorate student life. 

“I’m sad that Gerts is closed, but I’m excited for the new opportunities it will bring when it reopens,” Baltes said. “It’s hard losing such a community hub, but I think that when we rectify all of our maintenance issues, it’s going to be able to better serve the student body.”