Q1:  It’s time to be a tourist in our own city, can you tell us a bit about what’s happening in Old Montreal?

When was the last time you went to Old Montreal? If you haven’t seen it in the last few years, you won’t recognize it. The software companies that marched into its western end, mostly west of McGill St., have turned this area on its nose.

Now there are people living and working down here. Fabulous new restaurants have opened up in wonderful new boutique hotels. At the eastern end, near Bonsecours St., an entire new neighborhood was created.

Q2:  That sounds like a lot of changing, is the street scene modernizing and losing its Old World charm?

Did you know that the buildings on de la Commune Street look exactly the same today as they would have been to a sailor who sailed into the port in the 19th century?  Place Jacques Cartier has been totally refreshed. For the summer, St. Paul street has been turned into a pedestrian mall.

Q3:  Let’s get back to your specialty, what about the shopping there?

For all of the new inhabitants, retail shops opened to feed and care for them  - bakeries, dry cleaners, clothing shops, furriers and depanneurs have filled up the empty storefronts.

At first glance, dear old St. Paul St. is still filled with so many souvenir shops. Having said that, a handful of them contain the works of real artisans or more upscale gifts, and those are worth stopping in to see.

Q4:  What kinds of thing would we find in those stores?

You can think of these shops as shopping green and shopping local:

L’empreinte Cooperative is a 37-year-old co-op for over 70 Quebec artists and artisans, you can expect to find variety, including ceramics, handmade albums, glass vases, bowls, sheepskin slippers, pewter lamps, handmade clothing, puppets and creative jewelry. Marianne Chevalier weaves pictures using copper thread and for souvenir hunters, Renee Bovet captures Montreal street scenes on silk.

Location:  272 St. Paul St. East
corner:  Marche Bonsecours St.
Phone: 514-861-4427.
Hours:  Sun-Wed 10-6, Thurs-Sat 10-10 (Summer daily 10-10, Jan & Feb 11-5:30 daily)
www.empreintecoop.com

Smack in the middle of old Montreal, Les artisans du meuble quebecois, is a 43-year-old artisan’s consignment shop displays some of the wares of a minimum of 450 artists. Look for: glassware, ceramics, handmade cards, duck decoys, door knockers, fish bone shadow boxes, scarves, wooden kids’ furniture, dolls, quilts, creches, jewelry (silver, beaded), wooden boxes and then some.

Location:
88 St. Paul St. East
corner: St. Gabriel St.
Phone: 514- 866-1836.
Hours: Daily 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

At Tant qu’il y aura des fleurs, the decor here feels like you’ve stepped into someone’s lovely rustic home. Objects to fill yours include artificial fruit and veggies, candlesticks, large quilts and pillows, Joanel purses, animal wallets, woven place mats, colorful tablecloths from Provence (wash ‘n use, stain repellent), dishes, wooden bowls, vases, interesting jewelry and for fun, roosters, For babies, look in the back for little terry robes and booties made in Quebec. Everything can be gift-wrapped to go.  Right now you’d be surprised but they have set up a Christmas section and does make people smile when the see it.

347 St. Paul St. East
corner: St. Claude St.
Phone: 514-395-9079
Hours: Daily 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Inside Marche Bonsecours, , emphasizes natural items. Look for framed displays of beetles or butterflies, petrified wood, some minerals and fossils. You can buy an 8′ giraffe, skin drums, stone candle holders, dream catchers, bamboo flutes, paper lanterns and some really nice handmade paper stationery.

300 St. Paul St. East
corner: Bonsecours St.,  inside Marche Bonsecours
Phone: 514- 868-9992
Hours: Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Q1: Today you wanted to talk about stores that have stood the test of time and have been open a long time, a really long time - an entire century!

I have so much admiration for stores that stand the test of time. It is so hard to be in business in the retail sector and to survive through generations of changing styles, language issues, population shifts and recessions, that these stores deserve kudos.

Q2: What are some of the obstacles they have had to overcome to last this long?

There are so many things that retailers seem to think are necessary to take into consideration these days to operate a store - merchandising their wares, buying the right mix of products, the flow of traffic in and around the store, the way things are presented to grab the buyer’s attention, the amount of air and space in the store, the price points to set, colors to influence you, the right music to put you in the mood to buy, and on and on.

Q3: Is there a key thing you might say that links the different kinds of stores that have survived?

When stores are run by head offices and the owners are not there with their ear to the ground, it’s like the game of “Broken Telephone”. The retail shoppers  may be looking for one thing, but the store’s buyers are ordering out of a different catalogue. There is a lag between the customer’s wants and what the store stocks.

And probably most importantly, most stores that are open this long are family businesses. In order to keep food in the fridge and a roof over their heads, every single customer who walks in that door is crucial to them, so they must treat them right, listening to their needs and solving problems positively so they will come back again and again.

Q4: What types of stores have made it this far?

Another thing to mention is that each of these businesses is in a niche market, and one in which  there has always been a need:

Made-to-measure coffee has brought java lovers to Union Coffee, a Montreal institution since 1910. Owner Stephan Khoury, says they try to make customers feel at home.  It’s so comfortable, they want to come back, hang out at the coffee bar and chat”.

This wholesaler roasts the coffee right here, so you can choose one or custom blend from amongst the espresso, melange maison (regular and strong), french press, Kenya, Panama, Columbia Supremo, Fair Trade, decaf and Swiss washed decaf.

Those who like flavors can buy  or one of the 30 flavored syrups (vanilla, hazelnut, caramel, etc.) to add in. Coffee related products like iced cappuccino, or chai latte concentrate now line the shelves.

Free delivery is offered for 5 pounds or more. They sell espresso machines (Saeco, Rancilio, Pavoni, Breville, Quick Mill, Jura, La Spaziale) and teapots, too. Repairs to these machines are available.

Location: 148 Jean-Talon ouest
corner: Waverly
el: 514-273-5555
Hours: Mon-Fri 8-5:30, Sat 9-3
www.cafe-union.com

Don’t be put off by the location - it’s only 15 minutes across the Mercier bridge, and the sheer volume (100,000 sq. ft.) of merchandise at Tapis Lanctot is worth the ride. The Lanctot business has been around for 127 years; Now they sell floating and hardwood floors (look for the bargain bins starting at $.89) including condo solutions, ceramic tiles (starting at $1.25), about 500 area rugs, carpeting, vinyl flooring (lots of  remnants too).

Denis Lanctot told me that one thing that was impressed upon them from their elders (besides honesty and respect) when growing up in the business, was to look to the future and see what is coming. The store started out as a general store, saw the beginnings of the automobile, changed merchandise, saw shopping centers, changed direction, etc. etc. This generation built a warehouse building to include other home-oriented vendors.

They’re known for choice and service, and their prices are low all year round. Other vendors are inside their building selling wallpaper, paint, bedding, blinds, furniture, kitchen cabinets, plumbing, windows and doors.

Location: 148 Boyer,  St Isadore
corner: St-Regis
Tel: 514-875-1954
Hours: Regular plus Sun 11-5
Other location: Longueuil, 2025 ch. Chambly (450-647-1571)
www.lanctot.qc.ca

After you’ve stepped through the Art Nouveau portals of Archambault, Montreal’s oldest (1896) and largest music emporium, you can feast upon 4 floors and 45,000 sq. ft. of musical supplies, from sheet music and a grand salon of pianos to a full store of CD’s, DVD’s, books, games, office supplies and gifts

Locations: Main store,  500 Ste-Catherine est
corner: Berri
Tel: 514-849-6201
Hours: Mon-Fri 9:30-9, Sat 9-5, Sun 10-5
Other locations: Place des Arts, 175A Ste-Catherine o. (514-281-0367); Laval, 1545 boul. Le Corbusier (450-978-9900); Brossard, 2151 boul. Lapiniere (450-671-0801); 7500 Les Galeries d’Anjou (514-351-2230); 677 Ste-Catherine o. (514-875-5975); Mega-Centre Ste-Dorothee (450-719-2020).
www.archambault.ca

Dormez-vous, the chain of mattress stores that really understand mattresses and can explain them to you, is having a one-day warehouse sale.  They sell Serta, Sealy, Beautyrest by Simmons, Kingsdown, Tempurpedic and even the high-end  Stearns & Foster. At the sale they will have brand new mattresses, overstocks, demonstrators, floor models, linens and odds and ends. Bring your teddy bear,  your mate, kick off your shoes and try ‘em out.

Location: 59 Hymus Blvd
Corner: Boul. des Sources
Tel: 514-695-6376
Date: July 24
Time: 9-5
www.dormezvous.com

Magasin Festival Store,  owned by a manufacturer of corrugated boxes,is the place to buy (ask about the liquidated ones) boxes (1.5 to 6 cu. ft) for moving, storing and shipping, with special ones for mirrors, artwork, lampshades, golf bags, bicycles, dishes and crystal and wardrobes. Protective packing supplies are here, like bubble wrap, inkless newsprint, tissue paper and foam chips.  

Prices:  liquidated boxes  $.20-.40,  new boxes 1.08 & up. Festival will buy back their boxes at greatly reduced prices. You can even order custom boxes for strangely shaped objects

8286 Cote de Liesse, Ville St-Laurent
corner: Montee de Liesse
Phone: 514-340-1119
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30-5
www. festival.ca

Other moving tips:

First box/last box. Label a box “first box” and put in the last things you packed so you can quickly access your sheets, covers, toothbrush, toiletries, phone, toilet paper, towels, cutlery, dishes or paper plates and shower curtain. On an exhausting moving day, you just want the basics quickly accessible to fall into bed.

Packing tips:

Pack 2 or 3 boxes a day, starting as soon as you find out you are moving and they will be magically done by the time you have to move. Save packing space and money by wrapping fragile things in towels, sheets, duvets and blankets. Don’t leave suitcases empty, move your clothes in them. If you don’t want to buy wardrobe boxes, for hanging clothing, tape hangers together and move in bundles.

Q1: Today you want to let us know that although there might be oil spewing in the Gulf of Mexico, there will be no more oil spills possible in Montreal.

A: That’s right. We have reached the end of the line for oil or alkyd paint for painting inside our homes. With so many people getting ready for moving, and getting their new abode ready to live in, I just want  to let you know that as of the end of this year, paint stores will not be getting any more deliveries of oil based paint for painting inside or outside their homes. If they love the durability and wearability of this paint, they better get it now. The stores will be given two years to sell off whatever they have left on their shelves.

Q2: Why is it being taken off the market?

A: The reason is for reduced emissions in the air. The solvents in oil based paints take perhaps 30 days to dissipate into the atmosphere.

Q3: What if we had oil based paint on our walls or our shingles, what do we do now when we want to re-paint? And what do we do about areas that need the scrub-a-bility of oil paint?

A: You can go from oil to latex by sanding the walls, or using TSP (trisodium phosphate) cleaner and then using a primer in order for it to adhere properly. Paint companies, like Benjamin Moore has come up with en entirely new generation of paint. Theirs is called Aura which is tougher than conventional latex. It has a new molecular structure and is the biggest chemical change in paint since the  1950’s. You can scrub it to death.  Aura seals in an hour or two. No toxins being released as it seals so rapidly.

Q4: Where can we go to get this paint?

The outside of the Hub has an old-timey neighborhood feel and inside it reaffirms what shopping should be. Sure it’s a hardware store (some plumbing, gardening too) with personalized service but the raison d’etre these days is the bubbly decorating consultant who offers you a cappuccino and steers you through any decorating dilemmas (can even come to your house if needed). There’s Benjamin Moore paint, tons of wallpaper books, fabrics for curtains, blinds & shutters, Richelieu hardware, supplies to do the project, or even her little black book of experts to do it all for you.

Locations: 441 boul. Beaconsfield, Beaconsfield (514-695-3389); 3460 boul. des Sources (514-421-1454).
Hours: Mon-Wed 8:30-6, Thurs 8-8, Fri & Sat 8-5, Sun 12-5.
www. hubhardware.ca

City Paint is Montreal’s oldest paint store, open since 1898. Name brands sold here are Benjamin Moore and Mythic, along with stains and varnishes and tons of brushes. Yes, they’ve got the color matching computer, and low VOC, no VOC and the only VOC paint without toxins, but it is the service, the good old-fashioned kind, that has kept people coming back for generations from all over the city. If it’s good enough for the Mulroneys, it’s good enough for you.

Location: 200 rue Rachel est at Hotel de Ville
Phone: 514-288-8009
Hours: (Mar-Oct) Mon-Wed 7:30-5, Thurs & Fri 730-8,  Sat 9-4, Sun 11-4;  Nov-Feb) Mon-Fri 7:30-5, Sat 9-4
www.citypaints.ca

Q5: Is there any place we can go for the best price for paint?

Les Industries Gotham is a family business which has been manufacturing paint under many brands for the past 43 years. You can buy factory direct with friendly service and get an excellent product which yields a better result than some name brands at twice the price. Interior latex acrylic is only $27 for 3.78 litres, or you can buy it by the contractor’s pail of 18.9 litres for $95. They have ceiling paint, exterior latex, gray cement floor paint, industrial and more. They can also match your color with their computerized color matching system.

Location: 231 Rene A. Robert, Ste. Therese
Phone:  450- 435-1227
Hours: Mon-Fri 8-5:30, Sat 9-4
www.gothamindustries.com

Both Rona  and Reno Depot are having a 25% off sale on Sico Paint up until June 29th If you like Sherwin-Williams paint, I’ve come across one store in Pierrefonds (4798 boul. St-Jean Tel: 514-696-2000) which is offering 40% off until July 4th.

Q6: Any other comments?

- Stores will still be able to sell alkyd paint for industrial use - for outdoors,  metal, floors, rust.
- They are also coming out with hybrid paints that use oil resins in them but can be mixed with water.
- There are also O VOC paint to be used in baby’s rooms, or to be able to paint while pregnant or for people with immune deficiencies.

Well the words St-Laurent pop up again for yet another street sale this weekend. The sale is a mix between the merchants on the street who put out tables to sell overstocked items and also one where residents can rent a space at Beaudet Park (corner of Du College and Decarie, next to the Metro entrance).

This part of it is called  “Marché Urbain” and it is a community garage sale where residents display their wares and used items in order to sell them (cover charge is 20$ per table).  The merchant association also hires jugglers, clowns, painters, inflatable games and musicians so families can have a fun time.

Location: Boul. Decarie, VSL from Cote Vertu to Du College
Dates: June 18 (only a smattering of merchants): hours vary, June 19 (main day) : 12-5, June 20: 10-4ish
Tel: 514-747-3045

Boulevard St-Laurent has been hard hit over the last few years as the city has taken it upon themselves to rip it up to renew it, over and over again. It’s time to re-learn the new shopping on the street and give these local merchants a bit of our community support.

This weekend the Boulevard St-Laurent sidewalk sale will be happening from Thursday to Sunday. The street sale begins at Sherbrooke and goes all the way up to Mont-Royale.  Some of the stores mentioned in my Smart Shopping Montreal book that fall into that section of the street:

3653 Slovenia - homemade sausages: veal knockwurst, lyoner, pariser, schnitzel, all kinds of bacon and on…
3667 Nino La Cuisinere - for all things kitchen
3843 Boucherie Hongroise - grab one of their sizzling sausages to go while you peruse the street
3885 La Vieille Europe - charcuterie and foods from all over the world
3985 Frenco en Vrac - bulk food for more natural products
4358 Schreters - best shop on the street for men’s and boys clothing and now- ladies shoes

Dates and Times: June 17 & 18: 9:30-9, June 19 & 20: 9:30-6. Some stores on the lower Main, closer to Sherbrooke may stay open later on the weekend as they are in the busy restaurant area.

The best monthly sales of linens, etc. is the one held on Louvain St. in the Chabanel area. For bedding, curtains, carpets, comforters, pillows,  shower curtains, carpets, bath towels, mats, dishcloths, oven mitts, etc.

Location: 120 Louvain
Dates and times: Fri May 18: 11-6;  Sat May 19: 8-1
www.liquideco.com

Every June, or thereabouts, on a Saturday from 8 am to 1 pm, Le Panier gift store holds its only sale, called The Lemon Sale. Everything (gourmet food, toys, gadgets, kitchenware, home decor) that needs to be cleared out is sold really cheaply from 50% to 90% off. Come early - things go fast and it’s cash and carry - no cards.

300 Bord du Lac, Pointe Claire
corner: St-Joachim (sale is in the rear parking lot)
Tel: 514-695-7038
Date: Sat June 12: 8am-2pm, Rain date is Sun June 13
www.thepanier.com

Q1: During moving season, you start to re-think your bed situation, especially if you’re moving into your first small apartment or downsizing - beds take up a lot of room, any ideas?

A:  Some space saving options for sleeping are sofa beds and futons. I used to say that futons were an uncomfortable couch which turns into an uncomfortable bed - but that was before I slept on one made by Ungava Duvet. The futon was seven years old when I got my chance, and it was surprisingly quite comfortable. Having said that, I slept on a newer futon at my aunt and uncle’s house in Florida, and it was lumpy and quite uncomfortable.

Q2:  So what should you look for when buying one?

Desiree Tucker, co-owner of Ungava Duvet, says this about the cushioning: “there needs to be four to eight layers of interspersed cotton and foam”. The more layers, the more malleable it is. Most important, too, is that the cotton be pre-compressed. Ask the salesperson if the cotton has been compressed from three inches to one inch. If they don’t know, I’m not sure I’d buy it there. Two futons may look like they have the same thickness of filling, but if one is  made with a single chunk of foam, it will be less flexible, and within from six months to five years, you will see it flatten out and become uncomfortable.

As for the frame, is it made of pine or hardwood? Are there metal reinforcements in the heavily used areas? Is it easy to open - on a glider mechanism?

Q3:  Sofa beds are another space saving option what are the things to check when buying one?

Again you have to know who you are buying it from and how it is made. We were the first ones to sleep on a brand new one (again bought in Florida by my in-laws), and could not even lay down for an hour - our bodies flattened it right down to the wire frame which then pressed into us.

However here in Montreal, at Cameo a local manufacturer, I learned that when buying them, you look at the mattress itself as the most important item. This is what is supporting you as you are sitting on it, since it absorbs all the weight. Many people go in to buy a hide-a- bed at their showroom and don’t even look at the mattress, because “it’s only going to be used a few times a year when we have company”, but that is the wrong attitude. If you are sitting on the couch in your den, you are using that mattress every single day.

To compare the quality of the mattress, ask how many springs there are (it can range from 500 to 700, and the more the better) and especially what gauge or thickness they are. That can range from 13 to14, which may not seem like a huge difference, but at the14 end, it means the wire is as thin as spaghetti. You should also feel some resistance when you close the bed.

Q4:  But don’t you have to look at how the frame is made too?

Is the frame made out of hardwood or is it plywood or pressed board? Is the wood screwed together (better) or glued or stapled (both no-nos). If you can’t see the frame because it is covered by upholstery, remove the cushions and pull up the bed and look inside the front board (the one your calves lean against). There you can take a peek at the inside wood. The quality of the wood and method of construction is the first place where manufacturers cheat, because they are hidden.

Q:5 Where can we find these reputable places and do they sell anything else?

Don’t forget to bring your teddy bear and take the time to lie down for a while.

If it’s sofa beds you want, then go to Cameo and buy direct for every kind, style and price of sofa (and chair) bed you can imagine. The couches can be made into singles, jr. doubles, doubles or queen size beds and can be made to fit through most any doorway.

You choose your own fabric to match your decor and budget, and they will turn it into a well-made piece of furniture as well as a comfortable bed with an extra firm inner spring or memory foam mattress. You can also order made-to-measure couches, sectionals and chairs. A super place!  Even better, there is a “they cover the PST” event happening now.

Location: 7905 Transcanadienne
Corner: Boul. Cote Vertu
Phone: 514-337-2933
Other location: 1150 Union (514-861-0537).
Hours: Mon-Wed & Fri 9:30-6, Thurs 9:30-8  (eve only VSL), Fri 9:30-6, Sat 10-5, Sun 11-5
www.cameo-sofa.com

At L’Avenue du Sofa you can have your sofa bed made to measure and still not have it cost a bundle. This friendly husband and wife team offers a selection of fabrics and styles which you can modify by length, depth of the seat, legs, type of cushioning (hard, soft, foam, feather) and type of mattress. You can add matching arm chairs, lounge chairs or “fainting couches”.

Location: 2282 Mont-Royal est
Corner: Fullum
Phone:  514-524-1953
Hours: (call first) Mon-Fri by appt.,  Sat & Sun 12-5
www.avenuedusofa.com

Better quality futons made with 1.5 cu. ft. density foam and hardwood frames can be bought right here at Ungava Factory Outlet. You can dress them up with futon covers and bolsters.

The company, right off the Main, is well known for manufacturing duvets, so they can sell high end quality at low prices - starting at $59. They do special constructions, create made-to-measure sizes (even for cribs), feather mattresses and can re-stuff your old one. You can buy down pillows, wool mattress covers, wool pillows, duvet covers and even… silk duvets.

Location: 10 Pine Ave. West, Suite 112
Corner: Boul. St-Laurent
Phone: 514- 287-9276.
Hours: Tues & Wed 10-6, Thurs & Fri 10-8, Sat 10-5