Historic Quebec City grocery store set to close

North America’s oldest grocery store, J.A. Moisan, is preparing to close its doors after more than 150 years in operation.

First opened in 1871, the store weathered major historical events such as the Great Depression and the recent pandemic. However, the decision to shut down has been a deeply emotional one for co-owner Donna Willett.

“It’s sad to see institutions like this go, but many of our visitors treat it like a museum, coming in just to take pictures. Unfortunately, that’s not sustainable for our business,” Willett shared.

Willett purchased the historic building on Saint-Jean Street in 2019. The shelves remain stocked with staples, fine goods, and local cheeses—all currently offered at a 25 percent discount as the store winds down operations.

Local patrons have been stopping by to share their memories of the beloved establishment. Soon, memories and perhaps a few non-perishable items will be all that remains for customers.

Willett anticipates the store will close by the end of the month. Rising costs and competition from large grocery chains have made it increasingly difficult for the business to continue.

“We’ve seen the store take significant losses year after year, with no real growth in sales while expenses keep climbing,” she explained.

Elsewhere in the province, small grocery stores are also fighting to stay afloat.

Marché Esposito, a family-run business established in 1960, is one such example. Assistant manager Normand Shannon highlighted the challenges of maintaining competitive pricing to retain customers.

“It’s always hard. You have to be aggressive. If you’re not, you won’t survive in this market. The competition is fierce, and now there’s the added pressure of home delivery services,” Shannon noted.

Although J.A. Moisan is closing, Willett has no plans to sell the building. She intends to rent out the historic space and mentioned there is already interest from potential tenants.

“Anyone who tries to run it the same way as I did or as past owners did will likely face the same struggles I am facing now,” Willett said.

She hopes the next chapter for the space will breathe new life into the historic site, allowing its legacy to continue for another century and beyond.