Arcade Fire Members to Open Haitian-Themed Restaurant in Montreal

Well, it looks like Arcade Fire are getting into the restaurant biz.

The band's husband-and-wife-duo of Win Butler and Regine Chassagne have joined forces with another couple, restaurateurs Roland Jean and Jen Agg, to open a Haitian-themed dining establishment in their hometown of Montreal.

The ball got rolling last year when Butler and Chassagne stopped into Rhum Corner, a restaurant in Toronto owned by Jean and Agg. One thing led to another and the idea of a joint venture was born. "Win and I have always been dreaming of a Haitian place in Montreal. And we met Roland and Jen and we started talking," Chassagne told The Globe and Mail. "We said, 'Let’s stop talking and let’s just make it happen.'"

For Chassagne, the concept is close to home, as she has family from Haiti. "It’s more of an art project. The idea is that it’s a cultural space," her husband added. "The thing that we were really impressed with at Rhum Corner is that it’s this space for Haitian and Caribbean culture and it’s really cool and contemporary. Régine’s family moved to Montreal from Haiti, like a lot of Haitians, and moving to this tundra, you know, you miss this cultural warmth. It’s something that I felt at Rhum Corner and it’s something that I know that we can do in Montreal."

The band's interest in Haiti has been ongoing. Their most recent album, Reflektor, was inspired by a trip to Haiti, even incorporating Haitian musicians for the sessions. At the time, Butler told Pitchfork the album was, "a mash up of Studio 54 and Haitian voodoo."

Butler had previously teamed up with La Colombe Coffee for Rara, a specialty coffee grown in Haiti -- and the band also began the AFHearts Haiti project.

They are planning a grand opening for the restaurant sometime this summer.