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On my recent visit to Montreal, I spent an afternoon wandering the evolving stretch along upper St. Laurent boulevard. The area, known to locals as Mile End, has seen a resurgence of activity after several years of neglect.

Most people use Mile End to refer to the area nestled between trendy Plateau Mont-Royal to the southeast, upscale Outremont to the west, and bustling “Little Italy” further north up the Main. The neighbourhood where Mordecai Richler set so many of his novels (St. Urbain’s Horseman, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz), is defined by Jewish, Greek, Italian and Portuguese settlement. And, while you can still get the best bagels in town here, the real story is the influx of high-end retail and design popping up along the major avenues. It’s become a hub of activity, with boutiques opening almost weekly. Even Wallpaper magazine has noticed, calling Mile End Montreal’s hottest neighbourhood.

Although there are many new boutiques and restos in the area, I was on the hunt for interesting furniture and home décor. Of the dozen or so furniture shops along St-Laurent, from Mont-Royal to Bernard, three caught my attention. The first was newly opened Galerie CO (5235 St-Laurent), with it’s emphasis on sustainable goods.

A short walk from there was deMan design & mobilier (above, 4815A St-Laurent), specializing in custom furniture and interior design services. They cater to the trade but were friendly and welcoming when I walked in. The dining table on display was just stunning.

Then there’s Phil’z 20th Century Design (5298 St-Laurent and 792 Queen St. E. in Toronto) for great retro finds, both design heavyweights and quirky individual pieces like this mirror (above right) and polished stump table (below).

Others to check out: Société Anonyme (5428 St-Laurent) for Euro-modern furniture and Greene Bambou (5358 St-Laurent), which features exotic furnishings, lighting, and textiles in a contemporary style.