Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue’s only grocery store to close April 20

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Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue will lose its only grocery store on April 20 — less than a year after reopening under new ownership.

Claude McSween and Lory Vansteene, owners of Marché Ami Plus on St-Pierre St., announced the decision to close the store in a heartfelt post Saturday on the Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue Facebook community page in which they thanked employees and customers for their support.

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Despite “numerous sacrifices, financial as well as personal, the current economic context as well as operating costs unfortunately mean that we cannot continue to operate,” they wrote.

They said several elements affected the volume of sales at the St-Pierre St. store, including construction on the Île-aux-Tourtes Bridge.

“Together with Metro, the franchiser of the Marché Ami banner, we did everything in our power to save our business, but it was unfortunately not enough,” wrote Vansteene and McSween.

Media reports in March said the store was operating in the red and had significant debt.

Until Marché Ami Plus opened in late May of 2023, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue had been without a local grocery store since Marché Richelieu, closed suddenly in January of that year because of bankruptcy. The store, which operated under the Metro banner, had been a presence in the community for more than 80 years.

The majority of the staff who lost their jobs in the wake of the January closing returned when the West Island grocery store reopened.

There was an outpouring of gratitude Saturday in response to the post from dozens of residents — and disappointment the store is closing.

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“I’m sorry to hear this news,” Jeff Smallwood wrote. “These are really hard times to navigate, not just as a commerce but for everybody! I appreciate what you’ve done and what you were trying to do. We needed you and you delivered. We’ll miss you.”

Susan Joyce wrote: “That is very sad news. You were wonderful people and so sorry your hard work has gone unrewarded. I hope the community supported you as best they could. You will be missed.”

The nearest grocery store to Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue is in Baie d’Urfe, which is only a short drive away, but difficult to access for residents without a vehicle.

Anna Lena wrote she hopes someone will take over the spot. “A fresh fruit/ vegetable / cheese/ fish shop would be great, too. In the various small neighbourhoods of Montreal, like the Plateau, for example, there are tons of little “fruiteries.” Why can’t we convince one of them to come here?”

But one respondent suggested Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue might not need a local grocery store.

Hilarie Harubin-Nolet wrote the store was not profitable because many shoppers used it “as a gloried dépanneur and not a grocery store.

“Inflation has people watching their expenses and looking for one-stop shopping that offers the best prices on the majority of their order,” she wrote, adding many people shop for groceries online or have grocery stores deliver.

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