Ave. Cartier’s famous Provisions Inc. to reopen under new owners

Peter Black, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

peterblack@qctonline.com

There may be “beaucoup de pain sur la planche” (lots of work to do), but one of the new owners of the shuttered Provisions Inc. grocery on Ave. Cartier is hopeful the beloved store will reopen before the Christmas holidays.

Philippe Fontaine, owner of the Intermarché supermarket on Rue Saint-Vallier, last week took possession of the grocery with the familiar neon sign, along with partners Jean-François Girard and Johanne Fer- land, owners of the Michelin- rated restaurant L’Échaudé in the Old City.

Fontaine told the QCT that a key to the venture was the enthusiastic participation of Bruno Drouin, a former co- owner of Provisions whose fam- ily had operated the grocery for more than 70 years.

The Drouin family’s attempt to sell the business in 2022 went awry when the French couple who bought it ran into financial trouble, closed the store and fled the country in January 2024. A real estate promoter bought the building later that year and set about looking for a new owner.

Fontaine said having Drouin involved “gave me the confidence to get the project started on a good footing.” He said he and his partners have inspected the grocery equipment – un- touched for nearly 20 months – to determine what needs to be done to bring the store back to a functional condition.

“We have to take it step by step, but we would like to be ready for the holiday season,” Fontaine said.

While many of the familiar features of the grocery, including its fabled meat counter, will be restored, Fontaine said a new feature will be take-out offerings from Girard, who is the head chef as well as co-owner of L’Échaudé. Customers can also expect the return of the popular local produce market in front of the store next summer.

For Fontaine, the acquisition of the legendary local grocery is the latest step in a career that’s seen him go from “policier to épicier.” He said he became familiar with Provisions Inc. as a city police officer when the streets of Montcalm were part of his beat.

Three years ago, he took over the Intermarché store on Saint- Vallier from his father-in-law, who ran it for many years. He recalls having discussions with his father-in-law about Provisions Inc., but never imagined one day he would become the owner. “I adore what I do, so I am very satisfied” with the new adventure of reopening an old grocery institution, he concluded.