In Montreal, journalist Louis-Philippe Messier is mostly on the run, with his desk in his backpack, looking for fascinating topics and people. In this city chronicle he speaks to everyone and is interested in all areas of life.
Once upon a time, three owners of a popular Montreal grocery store in their neighborhood closed after a fire and magically reopened 30 hours after the disaster thanks to helpful firefighters and loyal customers who stood by them. .
Grocery store La Vieille Europe initially contacted me to discuss his upcoming 65th birthday, a venerable age.
This anniversary column almost never happened.
A fire that broke out on the night of Thursday to Friday almost spoiled the party at this institution on Boulevard Saint-Laurent, a stone’s throw from Schwartz’s on the Plateau.
Part of the grocery store was covered in an unpleasant shower of ash following a fire on the upper floor last Thursday evening. Courtesy of Steve Da Silva
“We still don’t know the cause of the fire that started on the floor above the grocery store in a commercial building, but firefighters had to spray water so it fell on us,” said Steve Da Silva, one of the people involved. Owner, tells me darkly. .
“It was really crazy and I had sleepless nights, but we were able to reopen because people came to help us.”
With herculean efficiency, the cleaning of the premises and the replacement of damaged products were carried out quickly enough to enable a “near-normal” reopening on Saturday morning.
“We were really encouraged to see that people cared so much about us.”
From the ground floor onwards, only boards attached to the ceiling bear witness to the disaster.
“My roommate works here and when I heard about the fire I had nothing better to do, so I ran here and helped for about three hours,” explains Mathieu Gonzalez, a young man I meet there.
Mathieu Gonzalez, a friend of the company where his roommate works, came to help clean up the disaster. Louis Philippe Messier
Since 1959
This deli on Rue Saint-Laurent was founded in 1959 under the name Old European Meat Market and then, by the grace of Camille Laurin, renamed La Vieille Europe. It has been run since 2000 by Mr. Da Silva, Nelson Santos and Paulo Raimundo.
All three have Portuguese origins.
Everyone has their specialty.
Mr. Raimundo is the roaster and head of the food department.
“We were one of the first in Quebec to roast coffee on site in 1981, which was revolutionary at the time,” recalls Mr. Raimundo.
Mr. Da Silva, for his part, became Mr. Cheese.
As for Mr. Santos, he looks after the butchery and charcuterie department and at the time of my visit he was just about to leave to deliver the products:
“We understood that it was important to sell not only to individuals but also to restaurants because by dealing with young, creative chefs we can know the trends,” explains Mr. Santos.
There are as many Portuguese products here as French, Spanish, German or Polish… and also Quebecois.
Several exotic boxes seemed confusing to me.
“We are always there to advise people who have questions about foreign products,” says Mr. Da Silva with a laugh.
Some of the employees have a lot of experience.
Adelina Cerqueira, cheese cutter, has worked here since 1989.
Adelina Cerqueira has worked here for 35 years. Louis Philippe Messier
Silvia, who makes Portuguese sandwiches, has been part of the La Vieille Europe family for “only” 30 years.
“I have been working here since October 4, 1993, thirty years and one month,” she explains.
Louis Philippe Messier