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Matthew Forbes is reopening La Poche after a devastating flood.
Guelph’s La Poche is back in business after the flood
Matthew Forbes is reopening after help from the community
The space that feels just like your living room is open again for co-working, appointments at Matthew’s Barber Shop and socializing in the evening at the bar. A flood closed La Poche on Jan. 20, 2025, but live music and events are coming soon.
La Poche is back in business after a major flood closed the shop and owner Matthew Forbes is still reeling from the experience.
“It’s been a struggle being back in here. It was hard to open initially, and it was pulled away so quickly and violently,” Forbes said. “I can’t keep starting over again.”
A broken sprinkler above caused the ceiling to collapse and water to fall like rain, rushing across the floors and soaking everything inside The cleanup took a lot longer than the owner anticipated.
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La Poche sat empty while dehumidifiers dried out the space after a flood.
Matthew Forbes photo
Forbes calls Guelph’s “little pocket” your second living room, a space that transforms from day to night. The barbershop, co-working space and bar went from an eclectic homey place to an empty shell, with helping hands pulling furniture, art and even instruments out of the building to save what they could.
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The process of repairs, dealing with insurance and all the things that came next, was as devastating as the flood itself, or maybe more so. It was hard enough for a small-business owner to get by after running for just seven months.
The ceiling at La Poche was majorly damaged after the flood in January 2025.
Matthew Forbes photo
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La Poche has been closed since Jan. 20 and is opening for all services on April 2.
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“In my mind, what was a weeklong job, or two, turned into nine,” Forbes said. “I feel betrayed by the system that is allegedly in place to help people.”
At 58 years old, after putting all his hopes and dreams into this unique downtown space, Forbes said he thought he would have to start all over again. In his initial post on social media after the flood, he joked about looking for work.
“It didn’t even occur to me to ask for help, but now it’s getting easier,” he said. “I’m still in shock by how much people care.”
A crowdfunding effort raised $18,740, and smaller fundraising events and supportive gifts meant the world to Forbes when he had no idea how to move forward. The ceiling and walls were rebuilt, and many items were saved and brought back.
Matthew Forbes goes up a ladder to hang pictures on the wall at La Poche.
Joy Struthers Metroland
“I had a bunch of beautiful people volunteer to help me,” Forbes said. “It’s funny how when you put things on the wall and the floor how it can change the way a place feels. It feels so good now.”
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He has worked hard to restore some original details and said he plans to put the chandelier that was hanging back together and up again, with all its scars intact.
“It was all smashed and I glued it back together,” Forbes said. “I don’t want this to be erased from the experience.”
Matthew Forbes shows that drywall dust is still on the broken chandelier.
Joy Struthers Metroland
The physical and symbolic repair of this place has changed it forever.
“I didn’t love how everything was laid out on the walls last time, even though it was all me,” he said. “This time around other people have a hand in putting it back together and I really, really like that. It’s the care that people are taking — now, it’s going to feel like a completely different space to me, because it won’t be just me.”
Forbes said his landlords and the downtown community have been amazing. So many people stepped up to help him. From moving things out, storing his paintings and furniture, to bringing things back and putting it all in place. People even fed him and shared kind words and love.
He was able to work from Acqua on Wyndham St. during his shut down, so he still could cut hair and be close to his shop, and he said Miijidaa stored items for him in their basement across the street. Another friend stored things too, and the help kept coming.
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A sign in La Poche says “we’ll be right back.”
Joy Struthers Metroland
“I’m so grateful and overwhelmed,” Forbes said. “I can’t even explain what it feels like.”
Folks can now look forward to having their space back, to being able to have somewhere to work and play. There will be live music, open stage and lots of things to get excited about.
La Poche is at 40 Quebec St.
Joy Struthers Metroland
Forbes said you can book your haircut, co-working spot and learn all about La Poche at .
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