According to my peeps on da street, the three recently vacated storefronts along this stretch on Sherbrooke West are not a random we-gone-broke thing. There is, apparently, a rather large market for durable goods that cost a single dollar. Yep. A dollar store is on its way on the South side of Sherbrooke near Melrose.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Dollllllar Store-a-comin!
According to my peeps on da street, the three recently vacated storefronts along this stretch on Sherbrooke West are not a random we-gone-broke thing. There is, apparently, a rather large market for durable goods that cost a single dollar. Yep. A dollar store is on its way on the South side of Sherbrooke near Melrose.
I once interviewed a dollar-store owner (gotta start somewhere) who said that he sometimes tells seniors that they can pick Any item in the store for free. Jeez, just hand them a loonie and be done with it.
ReplyDeleteThe joke is that there used to be a "five and dime" on that stretch, probably a "Kresge's". It's not really visible now, but I remember walking past that stretch not that many years ago and the facade was still there. I can't quite remember if it was at the corner moving east, or midblack. I'm pretty sure some of the stores vacated were in the same spot as the five and dime.
ReplyDeleteFor those too young, "five and dimes" were of course the "Dollaramas" of the old days, just a lower price, though I'm sure by the time I was aware of them, they weren't limited to nickel and dime prices.
Michael
One of my very first jobs was upstairs in that building, working for a semi crooked phone sales guy. One day he aked if anyone could type, and I was the only one who could, so I was "promoted" to office work from the phone thing. After a few months police started checking the place out and I quit.
ReplyDeleteIn those days it was an old-fashioned store of the five-and-dime Kresge's type although I don't remember what it was called. It had a lunch counter and I can still remember how bad its lunch special smelled: the restaurant exhaust fan was close to the windows of the office where I was working.
I don't think they need a dollar store there. There's already a really good dollar store on Sherbrooke and Grand, a few blocks west. Not one of those useless Dollaramas that specialize in knickknacks and fake flowers, but one with hardware, cleaning stuff and a great selection of office supplies. They're like the Rona and Bureau en Gros of Sherbrooke St. West.
ReplyDeleteMy, wasn’t that where the old “Jupiter” department store was, some 35 years ago??? (No it wasn’t a “Kresge” — and perhaps “Jupiter” was a 5¢ 10¢ 15¢, but I don’t recall that; all I recall is creaky wooden floors and a jack-in-the-box).
ReplyDeleteI always found that building to be pretty handsome, with it’s beige brick and patterned tiles.
(Isn’t that “Microscott” thing pretty tacky, though???)
(Note to self — check that store at Grand)
Speaking of Rona, I recall Pascal in Fairview mall with the giant collage of black tools affixed to the front of the store. You'd be able to climb it like a very tall iron fence.
ReplyDeleteIt was originally a location of the S.S. Kresge Co....later became known as "Regent Stores", owned by the Shatilla Family. Dollarama is today's incarnation of the old Rossy Stores, with the infusion of cash from Mitt Romney's Bain Capital.
ReplyDeleteIt was a Kresge - subsequently "Jupiter". Near the roofline, remnants of the letters "S.S.KRESGE" can be seen. The graffiti blocks the view of some letters, but from this Google Streetview you can see ESGE.
ReplyDeletehttp://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=5001+sherbrooke+st.+w,+montreal,qc&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=47.838189,113.994141&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=5001+Rue+Sherbrooke+Est,+Montreal,+Communaut%C3%A9-Urbaine-de-Montr%C3%A9al,+Quebec,+Canada&ll=45.470992,-73.614997&spn=0,0.003479&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=45.470405,-73.616143&panoid=jsOCGKfDflRqJZoegbx-6w&cbp=12,117.06,,1,-14.01
i can't believe that Gharbi store is finally gone...
ReplyDeleteI remember there was a Jupiter store at Norgate center in st laurent.