Peter Black

May 15, 2025

Local Journalism Initiative reporter

peterblack@qctonline.com

The Drouin cousins, Vincent and Bruno, the former owners of the popular Provisions Inc. grocery store on Ave. Cartier, have won a court battle with the derelict purchasers of the store, but collecting the money owed promises to be another battle.

A recent Superior Court ruling determined French couple Stéphanie Guessas Bouillon and Christophe Bouillon must pay the Drouins some $465,000 still outstanding on the purchase of the grocery dating back to November 2022.

In January, the store was closed on the pretense of repairs to refrigerators, but it never reopened. Meanwhile, according to media reports, the Bouillon family has sold their house and fled to France. 

Vincent Drouin told TVA he was “satisfied” with the April 19 court judgment, but said he has no illusions about seeing the money. “Of course we would like to get that money back. We’ll see what happens eventually.” 

According to the lawyer for the Drouins, Nicolas Gagné, the judgment could be executed in France, in the absence of the French defaulters.

The building, which has two apartments besides the grocery, is now in the hands of the Banque Nationale, with the French couple owing $2.7 million.

There is no update on possible new owners for the grocery, pending the current legal entanglements. 

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Provisions Inc. has been shuttered since January when the French owners left town. 
Photo by Peter Black from QCT archives.