Meet Sandra | 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 Sandra Ezril, director of Hôtel Terrasse Royal and Café Léonidas.

If we had to describe the Leonidas café, we would certainly say that it is a paradise for food lovers and especially for chocoholics. Upon arrival, our team was enchanted by the smell of all the treats served by the barista behind the counter, Jennifer Ezril, who is none other than the sister of Sandra Ezril, manager of the café and co-founder of Café Léonidas and the Terrasse Royale otel.  Moreover, the warm welcome we received perfectly reflected the family side of the brand. Sandra immediately served us a mix of the famous Leonidas signature high quality chocolates.

Sandra came to Canada as a child. She grew up in Montreal and specifically in Côte-des-Neiges where she developed a passion for cocooning.

“I love everything that is warm and comfortable. I like to contribute to people’s happiness.” Underlined Sandra during her interview. Today, Sandra contributes in her own way to the well-being of the people around her. 

“I put all my heart into making sure everything is perfect and that my clients are happy. Everything I do makes sense because it’s a family project,” she continued.

In 2017, the young woman and her father, Igor Ezril, went into business to build their family empire. “My father worked in this hotel 20 years ago. And he decided to buy it a few years later! He offered me to join him in this entrepreneurial adventure and I immediately loved the idea!” recounted Sandra with a fun look in her eyes!

Today, the Ezril family runs the Terrasse Royale Hotel and the Léonidas Cote-des-neiges café and communicates their beautiful values and family spirit in their business. “Family brunches and dinners with friends are always held at our place. Besides, the whole family works in this establishment. Our friends have worked here too! It’s a family place!” Sandra told us with great pride.

Writer-journalist-reviser: Zeineb Khalfallah | Photo credit: Gaëlle Leroyer

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.