Tuesday, March 6, 2007

The old Woolco/Walmart Mall

Does anyone remember the old Woolco/Walmart shopping center on Champlain Boulevard.   The year I left Montreal they closed up  and a new store was being built  near the Angrignon Metro Station. 
What did they ever do  with that Mall -  Did they put anything in its place ???
Laurie

34 comments:

happydi2 MSN said...

Laurie.......11 years a go my mom was living on Bishop Power and there was a Walmart in that building back then, but I don't know now what's there.   Where the Miracle Mart was there is a movie theatre there and it's been there for at least 12 years, if not longer.   Dianne

mom1945-linda MSN said...

On Champlain Blvd, at Bishop Power (I think), there was a round church on the corner and a shopping center across the street ~ sheesh I should remember I used to live the next block over from there, but old-timer's disease got me I guess ~ is that the Miracle Mart that you're talking about Dianne?    Guess I left Montreal before all that changed as there wasn't any Wal-Mart in Canada then, I don't think.

laurie19540 MSN said...

Hi Dianne We left PQ in 2000.   I remember they fixed the Miracle Mart Mall up quite nicely.   Geez I remember  waaaaay back when Rene and Natalie Simard  would go there at Christmas and sing-and sell a few records.  
The Walmart was folding up  and new one slated to open aroudn the time we left.  
The mall was like a ghostie village.  The grocery store had closed. Restaurant closed and a few stores with windows papered over. Laurie

happydi2 MSN said...

Linda...yes my mom lived near the round church. It is called St. Jean Breboufe (sp) and right across the road from there is the mall, Steinbergs was the grocery store which is now a Metro. and the Woolco/Walmart was way across the parking lot on the far side of the lot....way over...   d 

mom1945-linda MSN said...

Guess I'd really get lost trying to find my way around by landmarks.  They've all moved, hahaha.

happydi2 MSN said...

Laurie I think the Woolco/Walmart  mall is pretty dead. It was 3 years ago anyway. That's the last time I was in Montreal and we stayed with Paul's aunt who lived on Bishop Power but near the corner of LaSalle Blvd. My mom use to live at the other end, near the mall. D

arcade1969 MSN said...

One word condos         rob

laurie19540 MSN said...

Hi Rob Are you serious - condos. Well, I guess I am not su rprised. That place used to be so busy - and the kids from the high school  would be in there doing the McDonalds experience and their shoplifting or whatever L0L. Laurie                                                              

happydi2 MSN said...

Condos!.....Well, I guess that is better than leaving those old buildings to decay.   Did they tear down the old mall or turn the old building into a condo?   Dianne

happydi2 MSN said...

And Rob....   that was 3 words......are you posting on the right thread?   LOL...sorry, I couldn't resist that ......   Dianne

arcade1969 MSN said...

Well di they tore up most of the mall and put condos up and if i'm right they also put an iga there as well if i get the chance i'll go out there and take a few pictures and post them when i get the time



robert

edbro68 MSN said...

Walmart reopened in another area in LaSalle. They have a history of doing that. Their low prices drives local shops out of business and then they move leaving the people in the area with nothing. They did it in  LaSalle.              Ed

happydi2 MSN said...

Robert that would be great if you can post some pictures, we'd all like to see what that area looks like now.   Dianne

happydi2 MSN said...

Ed they're doing that where i live too. A big box store Walmart is due to open later this month in another area of Lower Sackville, N.S. The majority of people who shop at the old Walmart  live nearby  and the bus stops there too. I don't know what seniors and people on fixed incomes who do not have transportation will do for their shopping when the new one opens.   Dianne

claroleca2 MSN said...

I have a picture of myself when I was about 12 & my sister 4, from the photo booth that was in the mall right outside of Miracle Mart, the mall that linked with Miracle Mart & Steinbergs together. I remember the Woolco was way on the other side.  I'll dig up the picture and send it along. I also remember taking the 112 bus to Miracle Mart with a couple of girlfriends. You could buy a bra for $1!  They were never the right sizes, (especially since I was a small girl). My girlfriend suggested that we buy one anyway & just sew the cups in, which I did. Make up was really cheap too.  The memories! I have dreams of taking the bus out there & back all the time. I also have dreams of our house,(flat), it's always available for when we can visit. I wish I could see inside there now.   Claroleca 

laurie19540 MSN said...

Claroleca I remember that Photo booth.  I spent many a quarter on a Friday  night. We would go to the record department and pick some songs from the Hit Parade  and drive the girl behind the counter crazy as she acted as a DJ.   We would go and try on Miracle Marts latest fashions. Greenbergs was another good place.  We would buy this humongous bag of greasy french fries for fifteen cents  and then walk home. What an experience and a great Friday night's entertainment for a youngster.   Do you remember the free bus that went over the bridge to Mon Mart. This must have been around 1964ish. Laurie  

mom1945-linda MSN said...

Laurie   I remember shopping a couple of times at the MonMart, but I seem to recall that it was sort of dingy inside, and, at that time I think you could still smoke while shopping and you had to check everything real good before buying it....cigarette burns!   But that free bus over there....yup, do remember it!

maureenhf MSN said...

I lived at 7777 George St across from St. John Breboeuf (which at the time was called St. Barbara's) in the late 60's early 70's and often went across to the mall with my little daughters to wander around Woolco and did my grocery shopping at Steinbergs and we stopped at the Donut bar for donuts and milk.  Pinky stamps come to mind.  I still have the juice squeezer I got with Pinky stamps.  Maureen

jellybelly MSN said...

If you get this twice I aplologize.  If you lived in the apartment buildings on that street and you had the Gazette delivered, I was the paper boy.  I remember carrying up to 100 papers on Saturday.  Quite a slog through all the snow in the winter.   Henrik

les__f MSN said...

jellybelly,.what years were you delivering papers there?? I knew a John Skuda ,who I can Remember used to deliver newspapers along 9th av area too?  but I seemt to think that would have been 1969-70ish?? and I also think there was a 'Depanneaur' on Georges & 9th,.or was it one street down from there??  I know there was the corner store at 9th & Centrale, called the First & Last ( and referred toas the Quick & Dirty)............  

the lad MSN said...

Hi Les   John who delvd the Star did he eventually own a white split window vette?If it is I who I think it is I spent quite a night in the 50 with his brother....Tough one one to recover from....   Lad

jellybelly MSN said...

I delivered papers there and all down bishop power.  It would have been 69 - 70 when  I did that.  There was a variety store at the location you mentioned.  The first and last was run by the Shulman's whos two boys went to bronx park when I was there.   Henrik

les__f MSN said...

Yes  the lad:  that would be John,......he got an idea to either unload one in Vancouver (and vice versa) but the split window ,.I am pretty sure was found in the Lachine Canal ,and had been dumped ,.it was a customized vette ,with a wild custom paint job (for it's day) the wheel wells had been customized (cut out) to accommodate larger boots on the back,......and when the pulled it from the drink ,.it had 'baldini baxter belted skinny snow tires'............hahahahaha Can You Say Insurance Job                                                                                            Sure You Can.........                 hahahaha  and I think John really spent alot of time and fixed it up, or something like that,.it's a long time ago,...........            ====   Ahhhh the 50 Club,......spent plenty of time in there,through all it's changes..................lot's of stories from there ( that I can't Remember of course.................never know who's listening..............hahahahaha)

les__f MSN said...

Jellybelly ,.would they be ,or at least one of them be  Steve Schulman ,..they had a car lot on Dollard in the 70's ,.then he also went to work for the big GM store on Nuns Island for a while too..... I didn't Remember the family actually owning the First & Last,.but tehn I probably didn't give it much thought either,......it was always in there for a pack of smokes and then over to the bustop at 8th & Centrale,.where you catch the #58 as it did it's loop up and around,.and if you just missed it,.you walked down to 2nd & Centrale,.and woul;d catch it there,.by the time it did it's loop ,.you could walk from 8th to 2nd no prob,.and catch the bus ti Verdun,...unless it was real cold ,.then you could (so I've heard) steal a car usually outside the gas station across from the 50, and leave it in Verdun Summertime was better (nicer cars).......hahahahaha

les__f MSN said...

Just to clarify that ,.John got the car from the pound on Laverendrye ,remeber that small spot chainlimh all around it,.He didn't dump it in the drink,.he got it from there via the pound,.......and a remarkable job fixing it,.but I think he drove out to Vancouver,.and didn't get what he wanted and may have ended up with it for a couple of years......something like that,.if you see is brother ask him he may Remember .The pool hall on centrale was a likely spot to find any number of the usual Lasalle group,................ You must Remember Cartman playing Pool all the time whereever he went,.(whichever bar or poolroom)..........many years ago I was on a trip back to Montreal and we walked in to a tavern in the Point,....and there was Cartman,sitting there (looking a quite aged),.......Strange to be gone for years ,.and walk in a place you normally wouldn't go ,other than by chance (or thirst)....hahahaha   and run into old Bob...................wonder what he does now?

johnmelinvin2 MSN said...

interesting, that they ,wal-mark moves a lot and leave nothing behind..sounds right  

jellybelly MSN said...

Les- Steve was the older boy.  His mother worked at the store and being young at the time (we left quebec in '71) we may have interpreted that they owned the store.  its possible she only worked there at the time.  I remember Steve breaking his collar bone in the school yard of Bronx Park playing british bulldog in the winter at recess.   Henrik

les__f MSN said...

Jellybelly,.......   that was a great game to play,.I used to love British Bulldogs,.....Although I didn't go to those schools that Steve did,.I did know him,. but we played that game in Verdun,..............and it was a blast to play

edbro68 MSN said...

Mom Linda, I seem to remember that the MonMart supposedly short for monster mart was not the same as todays biggies. Every section was unto itself. You paid at each counter and many had different owners, not unlike a giant flea market except everything was new.                     Ed

happydi2 MSN said...

Ed I don't remember that...but then MonMart wasn't around for very long, was it?   Dianne

claroleca2 MSN said...

Laurie   I barely remember the mon mart and I don't remember a free bus since around 1964 I would have been 6 & too young to take a bus, hehe.     Claroleca

pomolive2 MSN said...

The woolco, it now an IGA, with a movie theater there now. yes the mall is still open.   just beside is still the macdonalds, and next to that was the walmart it was torn down. about 3 yrs ago and a huge condo. complex is up now..

cookie3261 MSN said...

Hi Les..... Are you referring to Bobby Cartman, the Bobby Cartman whose Dad is a Minister or something like that, I cannot recall?? The last time I ran into Bobby (that's if it's the same person) was back in  1979  or around there.....wondered if he was still alive today.....perhaps he is still playing pool in Lasalle.......my Dad knew him very well at The Lasalle Legion back then.......good grief, so many names from the past.....it's scarey..........   Thanks for your help Les on the info you sent me to get back into VC......just returned from spending 6 weeks in Mexico,  so have lots to read on VC to get caught up!   Cookie

wendythepool MSN said...

Hi there, I've been out of town for a wk. and I have some stuff to catch up on not to mention and bore you with my pc problems, but I remember my Dad would bring me out to the Monmart parking lot on Sun. when it was closed and teach me how to drive. I also took lessons with Mr. Mann at VHS with the car that had 2 sets of brakes and stirring wheels.
Wendy