Courtesy
Jeannette Comeau
By Rebecca Taylor
Local Journalism Initiative
If you drive or walk down Rue Principale in Richmond, you’ve likely seen Magasin Comeau, (396 Rue Principale Nord), but you may not know the store’s amazing history in this town. This year will mark the store’s 55th anniversary in operation, making it one of the older businesses still in existence in the region. Magasin Comeau is a fabric store that is held in high regard for its selection of material for clothing, décor, and upholstering.
“My knowledge of sewing and fabrics comes from my grandmother, Rosa Pellerin, who taught it to my mother, Liliane Comeau, who in turn passed it on to me. Today, I share this knowledge with my daughters, my employees and all my customers,” said Jeannette Comeau, owner of the store.
In 1970, when Liliane Comeau and her daughter Jeannette opened Magasin Comeau, there was a fabric store in every city. Over the years, many of them have closed, but Magasin Comeau has grown, expanding the products and services that it offers. Today, the store’s services include clothing repair, custom curtain making and cushion coverings for both interior and exterior fittings. They have also manufactured a good number of custom protective covers and other diverse projects for both residential and commercial needs.
Today, this business isn’t just essential for the people of Richmond. It has become known by clients from across the province with some coming from as far as the Gaspé.
The store is known for its personalized customer service. Jeanette Comeau said, “We take the time to understand our customers’ needs in order to advise them well, they sometimes even leave with a detailed plan and the steps to follow to create their projects. We got the nickname ‘The Miracle Department’ because we find solutions to all kinds of problems, and ‘Alibaba’s Cave’ because we really have everything, and many customers who come for the first time say that they feel like they are in a candy store.”
Throughout the shop’s fifty-five year history, it has seen a lot of evolution and expansion. It began as a very small space with a few boxes of patterns at the beginning when sewing was a way to save money, but the business quickly expanded its range of offerings. In the 1980s when mass production gradually replaced homemade products, more changes were required. The store started selling curtain fabrics, and increased its surface area, as well as adding upholstery fabrics, leatherettes, and foam. For several years now, it has also been offering custom-made tailoring services, thus meeting a wider range of needs for its clients.
“Today, fewer people are sewing out of necessity, but DIY and especially quilting are booming. Gone are the days when women made blankets from old clothes; quilts are now made from high-quality 100% cotton fabrics. Nowadays, people work with this noble material mainly for pleasure. Driven by passion, they make pieces, some of which rise to the rank of works of art. Magasin Comeau has recently adapted to new purchasing methods and has developed a transactional website that offers a wide range of products and reaches a clientele from all over the province, extending to remote regions,” stated Jeannette Comeau.
Although she plans to run her business for several more years, Jeannette Comeau knows that the time is approaching when she will have to pass the torch. “I would like to find someone who shares the same passion for fabric and to whom I could share my knowledge passed down for three generations and my values in terms of customer service.
Magasin Comeau is a regional gem in a unique market that serves a clientele as vast as it is varied, ready for a dynamic succession that is committed to continuing to offer these services that are essential to the development of our community. Who will be the next owner? Maybe you?” said Jeannette Comeau with pride.