More than a century and a half ago, when it was known as Coteau-Saint-Louis, Mont-Royal Avenue was surrounded by fields, limestone quarries, and tanneries. Around 1845, labourers and craftsmen began to move into the area, and pretty soon, the influx of residents grew into a distinct neighbourhood, and an urban lifestyle began to take shape. In the early 1900s, banks and taverns, the social hotspots of the day, began to emerge, making Mont-Royal Avenue a budding commercial area. Today, many of those institutions, including a 95 year-young tavern, are still around.
Below, we offer a glimpse at some of the first businesses established on Mont-Royal Avenue. Today, they still proudly serve a steadfast clientele and owe their longevity to the Mont-Royal way of business, a way characterised by “keeping ahead of the trends.”
One of the oldest shoe repair shops in Quebec, Tony Pappas set up shop on Mont-Royal Avenue at century’s start, the year 1900. In 1946, the store was bought by the Nenef brothers, owners of the neighbouring 3 minutes restaurant. The brothers would operate the store and restaurant until 1975, when it was later acquired by Roland Gauthier.
Back then, Mr. Pappas’s store was a haberdashery dealing in men’s furnishings such as hats, polishings, cuff links, shoe polish, and the like. Over the years, it evolved into a respectable shoe repair shop and then shoe store ; its reputation – 100 years later – can’t be beat ! In spring of 2000, Mr. Gauthier expanded the business to occupy the former location of the 3 minutes restaurant. However, despite this expansion, Tony Pappas’s famous shoe store has preserved its Mom-and-Pop shop style of service.
In 1919, the family jewellery store J. Omer Roy et Fils opened its doors for the first time. During the thirties, the business housed a partner-business, Trottier eyewear, and formed a formidable business duo. So much so that even today, people drop by J. Omer Roy and ask them to repair their glasses ! In 1974, a fire ravaged the store, requiring an all-out renovation and closing the store for six full months. Today, Mr. Normand Roy is the third generation owner of this renowned family business.
When it opened in 1951, bistro Ty-Coq became the first restaurant in Montréal to offer a phone order and delivery service. At the time, the place was owned by the famous Quebec radio announcer, Roger Baulu. Other well-known personalities also have ties with Ty-Coq. Author Michel Tremblay worked there as a deliveryman between 1954 and 1961, and Gérald Godin, elected member at the time, was a devoted regular. Also, for more than 25 years, Ty-Coq was THE hangout for groups going to the Théâtre des Variétés. This former steakhouse, transformed into a bistro over the years, has learned how to reinvent itself and was a finalist in the Montréal Business Design Contest in 1996. For the last 30 years, Ty-Coq has been owned by Mr. Claude Patenaude. The restaurant has been recently renamed in "L’orange pressée".
Photo : Ville de Montréal. Gestion des documents et archives.
