Meet Werner & Wolfgang | Portraits of merchants & professionals of Côte-des-Neiges

As part of the Portraits of merchants & professionals of Côte-des-Neiges project, we invited Zeineb Khalfallah (@zeineb_conscience on Instagram) to join us in our visit of 11 businesses of the SDC Côte-des-Neiges who have participated in the project. In addition to the exhibition on Promenade Jean-Brillant of the pictures taken by Drowster and Gaëlle Leroyer, Zeineb shares with us the moments she took with the owners and managers. Learn more about your merchants and professionals of the Côte-des-Neiges district! // Find out more on Zeineb talks and meet father and son, Wolfgang and Werner, owners of a real institution from ou neighborhood, Boucherie Atlantique.

Boucherie Atlantique is the gourmet destination for Europeans looking for comfort food that reminds them of their roots. Since 1962, this delicatessen has been taking its customers on a journey through their taste buds by introducing them to products from elsewhere, European-style sausages prepared on site, high-quality cheese, homemade dishes, and more. 

“People from Europe come here and often feel like they are walking into a grocery store in Paris, Berlin or Vienna.” Says Werner Lustig, owner of the butcher shop.

The delicatessen was founded by Wolfgang Lustig, whom we had the chance to interview. He told us that he was only 19 years old when he started his project. Despite his young age, the German-born man was able to identify a business opportunity and ended up founding The Boucherie Atlantique.

 “When I arrived in the country, I saw that there were very few offers in this sector. With my experience as a butcher, I decided to save some money and open a small butcher shop. From this small store, I moved on to a bigger project. And here I am today after 60 years.” Wolfgang recounts.

The founder of La Boucherie Atlantique knows all the nooks and crannies of Côte-des-Neiges since it is where he has always lived. “I know the old railroad buildings and the new ones. I know a lot of people in this area.” He clarifies.

What has made this butcher shop successful for the past 60 years, despite the various crises in the market, is its sausages, home-cooked meals and the high quality of the products sold. Werner Lustig, Wolfgang’s son, studied in Europe where he learned his trade as a butcher. The sausages made at La Boucherie Atlantique are indeed made authentically, according to tradition and with a great expertise.

“We only sell high quality products!  Everything here is imported from all over the world. I represent all destinations from Europe to Asia.” Wolfgang proudly points out.  “We’ve had our ups and downs with the various economic crises. But we are still here.” Werner adds.

What has also made the grocery store successful is the human contact the Lustig family has with consumers, employees and suppliers from all over the world. “We’ve had a long-standing relationship with our merchants! They trust us completely. Trust is the core of our relationships with our customers, employees and suppliers.” Shares Werner.

In short, the Lustig family’s know-how is passed on from father to son/daughter in order to continue to serve consumers looking for comfort food that reminds them of their European origins or a trip to France, Italy, Germany, etc.

Writer-journalist-reviser: Zeineb Khalfallah | Photo credit: Drowster

Complete the experience by visiting the free exhibition on Promenade Jean-Brillant from September 15 to December 5, 2021. Info: here

ABOUT THE PROJECT: Portraits of merchants and professionals of Côte-des-Neiges is a project aimed at connecting citizens with businesses in the territory of the Société de développement commercial (SDC) Côte-des-Neiges. Through a series of portraits taken at 11 businesses and businesses, we discover 16 owners and managers of businesses in the area. This social and cultural project is intended to be a real encounter with the people behind the professional. Through this very first edition, you will discover women and men, young professionals and seasoned entrepreneurs, from different cultures, from different backgrounds, offering a varied commercial offer and all having in common their love for Côte-des-Neiges. Discover the exhibition section here on the Promenade Jean-Brillant and continue the experience online thanks to the touching interviews carried out with each of them and available on the SDC Côte-des-Neiges blog and via QR codes on each panel. This project is an initiative and is under the artistic direction of the SDC Côte-des-Neiges. The exhibition component was produced in collaboration with the Maison de la culture Côte-des-Neiges and the Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough.