Some merchants on Laurier Avenue in the Montreal's Plateau neighbourhood are fed up enough with customers having trouble parking as it is, and they say it will only get worse with new permit-only parking between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m., seven days a week.

Business owners along the street between Brébeuf Street and Papineau Avenue have even taken to putting facetious "for sale" signs in their window directing would-be buyers to the borough office of the Plateau-Mont-Royal.

Merchants said they're trying to send a message to the borough that their businesses can't survive if shoppers can't find parking.

"When you have someone who takes the time to take the extra zig-zag to come in, well they have to find extra zig-zag to find parking. So that is the last straw for us," said Olivier Monfet, who owns two businesses on Laurier Avenue.

Councillor Marie Plourde said she was surprised by the merchants' "for sale" stunt, especially because residents have demonstrated a great need for permit parking.

"We sold over 650 parking stickers, maybe around 700, so there is a need," Plourde said.

She said this stretch of Laurier Avenue was the last in the Plateau to get parking stickers for residents. She also said only three out of every 10 available spots are affected.

Monfet said the borough got a little overzealous with the parking restrictions after an initial request was made to restrict parking to residents only around Laurier Park.

Meanwhile, at least some residents are happy about the new seven-days-a-week parking rules.

Antoine Simpson said it's been relatively easier to find parking.

"It's been better since we have some permits," he said.