The former Molson brewery in Montreal's Centre-Sud neighborhood woke up Saturday morning covered in massive graffiti tags that incorporated the building's iconic heritage signage into elaborate artistic statements. Vandals scaled the century-old brick facades overnight, painting letters that merged with the brewery's original logo to spell out words like "Kong," "Sluk," "Kaoe," and "June." The property owner, development group Montoni, immediately condemned the act as deliberate vandalism against a protected historical landmark, though they confirmed no theft or other damage occurred during the incident. A security review is now underway to determine how the artists accessed the site, which Montoni claims meets the highest security standards.
The graffiti appears to be the work of well-known Montreal street artists who have left their marks across the city. The name "Kong" was painted vertically using the first "O" in the Molson logo, with the artist adding fake paint drips for dramatic effect beneath the building's famous clock tower. On the east facade, the second "O" became part of "Kaoe" while the "N" helped spell "June." Both Kong and Sluk maintain active social media profiles where they document their large-scale works, often showing themselves rappelling down buildings with spray paint and brushes. Neither artist has publicly claimed responsibility for the Molson brewery pieces, which follow their signature styles of integrating existing architectural elements into their designs.
Montoni representatives contacted the Montreal City Police Service immediately after discovering the graffiti Saturday morning and filed an official vandalism report. The company hired a specialized anti-graffiti firm that arrived Sunday to assess removal methods that would preserve the building's heritage character. By Monday afternoon, the colorful tags remained visible from several blocks away, drawing both criticism and quiet admiration from neighborhood residents. "This type of event, whether artistic or not, remains regrettable, particularly when it affects a heritage emblem," stated Jean-Baptiste Portrait, Montoni's communications director, emphasizing the company's commitment to protecting the site's historical integrity.
The former Molson brewery represents one of Montreal's most significant industrial heritage sites, operating continuously from 1786 until its closure in 2021 when production relocated to Longueuil. The massive complex near the Jacques Cartier Bridge is slated for transformation into a mixed-use district featuring nearly 5,000 residential units, commercial spaces, and public parks. Preservationists have fought to maintain the building's distinctive red brick facades and iconic signage as part of the redevelopment plan. The graffiti incident raises questions about how to secure large heritage sites during lengthy transition periods between industrial use and new development.
Street art enthusiasts argue the pieces demonstrate exceptional technical skill and creative adaptation to the existing architecture. The artists' ability to incorporate Molson's vintage lettering into new words shows sophisticated planning and understanding of the building's design. However, heritage advocates counter that unauthorized alterations violate preservation laws and set dangerous precedents for other protected structures. Montreal has seen growing tensions between its vibrant graffiti culture and efforts to maintain historical authenticity in rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods like Centre-Sud. The city has designated certain areas for legal street art while strictly enforcing anti-vandalism laws on private and heritage properties.
Cleanup efforts will likely cost tens of thousands of dollars and require careful chemical treatments to avoid damaging the century-old brick and mortar. Montoni must balance swift removal against the risk of harming the heritage elements that make the building valuable. The incident may accelerate plans to install comprehensive security systems and protective coverings on lower facade sections. Meanwhile, photographs of the graffiti have spread rapidly on social media, sparking debate about whether such acts constitute criminal damage or unauthorized public art. The police investigation continues as officers review surveillance footage from nearby businesses and traffic cameras that might have captured the artists in action.
