The journalist Martine Letarte from La Presse introduced us to a commercial furniture company, De Gaspé, located near Chabanel Street in Montreal.

'They manufacture custom furniture and support the local economy. In the workshop and offices of the commercial and residential furniture company, about thirty people are busy making and marketing beds, tables, desks, and other furniture to meet the demand of the Quebec market and, increasingly, Canadian.'

On the other hand, Annabelle Caillou, in Le Devoir, presents to us the Cuisine Collective Hochelaga-Maisonneuve (CCHM), an organization that has supported vulnerable residents of the neighborhood for decades.

‘’To help families struggling to make ends meet, a new grocery store in Montreal offers them access to low-priced food, far from the queues and shame that keep them from visiting food banks.

Without fanfare, La Collective opened its doors two months ago, at the corner of Adam and Joliette streets, in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. It shares its premises with the Cuisine Collective Hochelaga-Maisonneuve (CCHM), an organization that has supported vulnerable residents of the neighborhood for decades.’’

‘There should be more social economy enterprises of this kind, especially in the current economic context, in a situation where we want to create a local supply chain in the face of Donald Trump's tariffs,’ she concludes.

In addition to this type of enterprise, Montreal enjoys a multitude of public markets whose popularity continues to grow. These businesses offer fresh products of the day and help combat climate change by reducing the distances that food travels.

Among them: Jean-Talon Market, in the Petite-Patrie district; Atwater Market, near the Lachine Canal; Maisonneuve Market, in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district; West Market, in Dollard-des-Ormeaux; and Éclusiers Market, in the Old Port of Montreal.

My apologies to those I haven't named.

We must not forget the local designer boutiques with street fronts, including:

Cherry Bobin: Located at 97 Saint-Jean Street, Longueuil, which offers thoughtful, ethically-made, comfortable, affordable, and stylish clothing.

Modéco Boutique: Located at 1899 Mont-Royal Avenue East, this boutique offers a variety of local brands such as Yoga Jeans, Annie 50, Eve Gravel, and many more.

Fringues Friperie: Located at 1355 René-Lévesque Boulevard West, this thrift store serves as a working platform for the professional integration program.

Cokluch: Located at 410A Villeray Street, this Montreal brand designs durable, unique clothing made from natural fabrics, with a commitment to responsible production.

And finally, passionate local designers such as:

Darlings of Denmark: Founded by Brenda MacDonald, this brand offers Scandinavian-inspired, geometric, and colorful jewelry.

Harakiri: A brand of sophisticated and delicate jewelry designed in Montreal. Sainte Oeuvre: A multidisciplinary creative house that produces images, videos, and limited edition artist t-shirts.

Pony: Known for its prints, plush toys, and t-shirts printed with a touch of cynicism. Oscar Mendoza: A Canadian-Mexican fashion designer, graduated from Collège Lasalle, who offers surreal and sophisticated collections.

NOBLE: Founded by Noémie Lacerte, this brand is known for its soft and elegant pieces.

Marigold Montréal: A slow fashion brand created and assembled in Montreal, with a workshop boutique on Wellington Street.

Buying local supports the local economy, reduces the carbon footprint, and allows you to obtain unique and high-quality products.

Let us know about local designer shops that have a storefront. We will feature them in future publications.