As part of the Portraits of merchants & professionals of Côte-des-Neiges project (3rd edition), we invited Francis Faubert Cloutier to accompany us on a series of visits to 10 SDC Côte-des-Neiges businesses that took part in the project.
Interview with
Nizaraly | Portraits of merchants & professionals of Côte-des-Neiges
Find out more about your local Côte-des-Neiges merchants and professionals! // Looking back on our meeting with : Nizaraly Goulamhoussen, Owner of Marché du Village
Le Marché du Village: Nizaraly Goulamhoussen’s Conscious and Human-Focused Grocery Store
Nizaraly Goulamhoussen took over Le Marché du Village in 2000. With over twenty years of experience in supermarket management, the businessman has built a reputation by prioritizing the quality of the service. “Our purpose is customer interaction,” he asserts. “Here, they feel welcomed. We take the initiative, and they feel welcomed,” he continues. Indeed, many employees can be seen in the grocery store’s aisles, busy helping and advising customers. “Sometimes people come in here without knowing what they’ll have for dinner. So, our employees are happy to share their suggestions and show them our new products,” Nizaraly describes.
At the butcher counter, Jean François Elliott prepares custom meat cuts and also suggests his discoveries to customers. “Four months ago, I introduced Japanese and Quebecois Wagyu beef. I ordered half a cow, and I sold it all in less than a week!” he recounts. The uniqueness of Wagyu beef comes from the way the animal is raised. This technique results in the tougher parts of conventional beef being more tender in Wagyu. Jean-François also explained that he’s the only one in the neighborhood working with this type of meat.
For ecological and economic reasons, the friendly butcher buys directly from local producers. “By supporting local, we reduce the impact of inflation,” according to Jean-François. Additionally, all prepared dishes are made in the store. Butcher carcasses are used to prepare broth for soups. Shepherd’s pies as well as sauces, it’s all made here,” he adds.
“In addition to the quality of the service, the freshness of the products sets us apart,” Nizaraly asserts. According to him, it’s essential to prioritize quality over quantity. This is one way to ensure product freshness. “When everything is sold, we make more, it’s as simple as that,” he jokes.
For the experienced grocer, Côte-des-Neiges is a lively neighborhood. According to him, the high number of schools, hospitals, and tourist attractions give the area its cheerful atmosphere and dynamism, making it its wealth.
Copywriter: Francis Faubert Cloutier
Photographer: Gaelle Leroyer
Art direction: Félicia Balzano (SDC Côte-des-Neiges)
Complete the experience by visiting the free exhibition from September 7 to December 5, 2023.
ABOUT THE PROJECT :
After a great success in 2021 and 2022, the SDC Côte-des-Neiges is proud to present the third anniversary edition of its Portraits of merchants & professionals of Côte-des-Neiges project through an exhibition on the Promenade Jean-Brillant from September 7 to December 5, 2023, as well as online interviews accessible via QR code on each panel.
The aim of this initiative is to put citizens in touch with businesses in the territory of the Société de développement commercial (SDC) Côte-des-Neiges. Through a series of portraits of 10 shops and businesses, we get to know 14 local business owners and managers. This social and cultural project is a real encounter with the human side of business life.
In this third edition, you’ll discover men and women, young professionals and established entrepreneurs, all from different cultures and backgrounds, with a diverse range of commercial offerings. The common denominator? Their love for Côte-des-Neiges.
This project is an initiative of the SDC Côte-des-Neiges, made possible through collaboration with the Maison de la culture CDN and the borough of Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce.