A century and a half of grocery history disappears in Quebec with the closure of JA Moisan

Opened in 1871, the JA Moisan grocery store, in the Saint-Jean-Baptiste district of Quebec, will soon close, because the owners can no longer compete with the big box stores. It’s the end of a century and a half of a historic business in the Old Capital.

“I was looked after here when I was a child; nothing has changed,” says Thérèse Légaré Faguy, the granddaughter of founder Jean-Alfred Moisan, in a video document from Quebec City.

Due to the interior decoration well preserved to this day, the lady easily recognizes it as the first grocery store in North America. You can still do your shopping there, but the owner of the establishment has decided to close the door.

Great loss

For the Quebec Historical Society, this closure marks the end of a “true institution in the Saint-Jean-Baptiste district.” JA Moisan has “allowed the population of the neighborhood of yesterday and today to stock up on quality food products, in addition to constituting a place par excellence of living heritage”, comments to Journal Emmy Bois, vice-president of the Society.

Living in Saint-Jean-Baptiste

The founder, who always lived in the village of Saint-Jean-Baptiste (now annexed to Quebec City), was just in his twenties when he opened his first business. After his marriage to Létitia Clavet, he established a concept which was completely innovative: the grocery store.

It was only at the end of the 19th^e century, residents tend to go to public markets to purchase their food. They are not used to buying their non-perishable foods in local stores.

By offering spices, flour, dried fruits or alcohol, the JA Moisan grocery store attracts an enthusiastic clientele. The grocer will add coffee and local cheeses to its shelves.

The merchant ensures the support of the church, because “he responds to the obligation made by the Catholic religion to eat lean (without meat) on Fridays, by opening a fishmonger which will be very popular, particularly during the oyster season which the grocer received by barrels,” we can read in the historical document from the City of Quebec.