The only convenience store in a small village in Centre-du-Québec that was saved from closing is now making unexpected sales.
In the fall of 2021, the owner of the only convenience store in Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes was regarding to close.
However, the mayor of the place, Jocelyn Bédard, might not resign himself to seeing it disappear.
His village of nearly 800 souls, in full demographic growth, has already been deprived of a restaurant for fifteen years and, for him, the departure of the convenience store was not to become a reality.
The municipality therefore bought the convenience store building at the cost of the municipal assessment, ie $104,000, and entrusted its management to a local development committee. A volunteer recognized for his dynamism, Yannick Lemire, accepted the presidency.
“A convenience store is the first thing a municipality needs,” said Mr. Lemire.
At the entrance to Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, the business, which has undergone a makeover, now looks great on Route 265, near Highway 20, with its new signs representing the municipality’s logo. .
“We wanted it to be nice and clean. It is the door of the village”, exclaimed the mayor.
MUTUAL HELP
Last summer, its reopening was acclaimed by customers happy to support their convenience store.
“Citizens appreciate it. They were tired of going elsewhere. We were told thank you I don’t know how many times, ”said the elected official.
After six weeks of operation, the convenience store had generated $100,000 in sales, Messrs. Bédard and Lemire, which corresponds to a quarter of the forecast for the whole year.
“Without a convenience store, there was a lack. Businesses in the region were complaining,” said Mr. Lemire.
The business also offers new services and products for ready-to-eat food, wine, camping wood or berries thanks to its local suppliers.
Six new local employees have been recruited by the development committee.
