It’s officially the end of an era in Quebec. The building of the famous Folichon cabaret for naked dancers has been sold and is being converted into a high-tech laboratory.
The mythical building on Boulevard Wilfrid-Hamel is now used for the manufacture of optical lenses and medicine.
A true institution, the Folichon – also known for its good food – was for 40 years the number one entertainment spot for gentlemen in the old capital and the discreet meeting place for international stars, Nordiques players and influential politicians.
“Our strength has always been customer service. A lot of people asked to go incognito and we respected confidentiality, otherwise we wouldn’t have lasted so long,” former owner Gaétan Bélanger tells the Journal.
He mentions that around 10,000 women have worked at Le Folichon since it opened in 1980, and he estimates the number of visitors at several million, not counting the hundreds of thousands of meals served.
The pandemic and the labor shortage will finally put an end to the profession, which in 2021 had transformed into cabaret l’impresario.
Despite a few good evenings, the owner decided to put his building and property up for sale for $1.3 million last August. It only took a few months for the transaction to go through.
Doric lenses
Sead Doric, President and Founder of Doric Lenses, is the new owner of the premises.
She will use this new acquisition to undertake a major expansion once extensive renovations have been completed. Large windows are added while the stage and kitchen are dismantled.
“We needed space. It is a production line that will move into the building,” confirms the man of Bosnian origin.
Founded in 1995, the company has developed a range of products for assembling photonic devices. The company, which employs 80 people, exports 90% of its production abroad.
Mr. Doric came to Québec in the late 1980’s, earned his PhD in Physics from Imperial College of London and eventually started his own business from his basement. Today he is considered an important supplier in his field.
At one point, when his company moved into a building behind the Folichon and he saw the for sale sign, the opportunity presented itself to acquire the old strip club.
“When I wanted to explain where we are, I said: behind the folichon. No one had ever visited that place, but everyone knew where it was,” laughs Mr. Doric.
Not retired
For his part, Gaétan Bélanger refuses to talk about retirement. Even though he has sold his house, he keeps the door open for a new project.
“I kept my gear so it might be useful. I’ll take my time, but I’m always open to new ideas. That keeps projects alive,” says the 75-year-old, without specifying whether another strip club is planned to open.
Mr. Bélanger is very proud of what he has achieved over the years. He also wanted to thank his valued customers, who will have followed him to the end.
Last year he managed to fill the building with music shows that had nothing to do with the traditional dance shows.
“Honestly, some nights it worked really well, but we couldn’t have enough people to work three nights a week,” he concludes.
Do you have any information about this story that you would like to share with us?
Do you have a scoop that might be of interest to our readers?
Write to us or call us directly at 1-800-63SCOOP.