Q1: Today you wanted to talk about stores that have stood the test of time and have been open a long time, a really long time - an entire century!

I have so much admiration for stores that stand the test of time. It is so hard to be in business in the retail sector and to survive through generations of changing styles, language issues, population shifts and recessions, that these stores deserve kudos.

Q2: What are some of the obstacles they have had to overcome to last this long?

There are so many things that retailers seem to think are necessary to take into consideration these days to operate a store - merchandising their wares, buying the right mix of products, the flow of traffic in and around the store, the way things are presented to grab the buyer’s attention, the amount of air and space in the store, the price points to set, colors to influence you, the right music to put you in the mood to buy, and on and on.

Q3: Is there a key thing you might say that links the different kinds of stores that have survived?

When stores are run by head offices and the owners are not there with their ear to the ground, it’s like the game of “Broken Telephone”. The retail shoppers  may be looking for one thing, but the store’s buyers are ordering out of a different catalogue. There is a lag between the customer’s wants and what the store stocks.

And probably most importantly, most stores that are open this long are family businesses. In order to keep food in the fridge and a roof over their heads, every single customer who walks in that door is crucial to them, so they must treat them right, listening to their needs and solving problems positively so they will come back again and again.

Q4: What types of stores have made it this far?

Another thing to mention is that each of these businesses is in a niche market, and one in which  there has always been a need:

Made-to-measure coffee has brought java lovers to Union Coffee, a Montreal institution since 1910. Owner Stephan Khoury, says they try to make customers feel at home.  It’s so comfortable, they want to come back, hang out at the coffee bar and chat”.

This wholesaler roasts the coffee right here, so you can choose one or custom blend from amongst the espresso, melange maison (regular and strong), french press, Kenya, Panama, Columbia Supremo, Fair Trade, decaf and Swiss washed decaf.

Those who like flavors can buy  or one of the 30 flavored syrups (vanilla, hazelnut, caramel, etc.) to add in. Coffee related products like iced cappuccino, or chai latte concentrate now line the shelves.

Free delivery is offered for 5 pounds or more. They sell espresso machines (Saeco, Rancilio, Pavoni, Breville, Quick Mill, Jura, La Spaziale) and teapots, too. Repairs to these machines are available.

Location: 148 Jean-Talon ouest
corner: Waverly
el: 514-273-5555
Hours: Mon-Fri 8-5:30, Sat 9-3
www.cafe-union.com

Don’t be put off by the location - it’s only 15 minutes across the Mercier bridge, and the sheer volume (100,000 sq. ft.) of merchandise at Tapis Lanctot is worth the ride. The Lanctot business has been around for 127 years; Now they sell floating and hardwood floors (look for the bargain bins starting at $.89) including condo solutions, ceramic tiles (starting at $1.25), about 500 area rugs, carpeting, vinyl flooring (lots of  remnants too).

Denis Lanctot told me that one thing that was impressed upon them from their elders (besides honesty and respect) when growing up in the business, was to look to the future and see what is coming. The store started out as a general store, saw the beginnings of the automobile, changed merchandise, saw shopping centers, changed direction, etc. etc. This generation built a warehouse building to include other home-oriented vendors.

They’re known for choice and service, and their prices are low all year round. Other vendors are inside their building selling wallpaper, paint, bedding, blinds, furniture, kitchen cabinets, plumbing, windows and doors.

Location: 148 Boyer,  St Isadore
corner: St-Regis
Tel: 514-875-1954
Hours: Regular plus Sun 11-5
Other location: Longueuil, 2025 ch. Chambly (450-647-1571)
www.lanctot.qc.ca

After you’ve stepped through the Art Nouveau portals of Archambault, Montreal’s oldest (1896) and largest music emporium, you can feast upon 4 floors and 45,000 sq. ft. of musical supplies, from sheet music and a grand salon of pianos to a full store of CD’s, DVD’s, books, games, office supplies and gifts

Locations: Main store,  500 Ste-Catherine est
corner: Berri
Tel: 514-849-6201
Hours: Mon-Fri 9:30-9, Sat 9-5, Sun 10-5
Other locations: Place des Arts, 175A Ste-Catherine o. (514-281-0367); Laval, 1545 boul. Le Corbusier (450-978-9900); Brossard, 2151 boul. Lapiniere (450-671-0801); 7500 Les Galeries d’Anjou (514-351-2230); 677 Ste-Catherine o. (514-875-5975); Mega-Centre Ste-Dorothee (450-719-2020).
www.archambault.ca

Dormez-vous, the chain of mattress stores that really understand mattresses and can explain them to you, is having a one-day warehouse sale.  They sell Serta, Sealy, Beautyrest by Simmons, Kingsdown, Tempurpedic and even the high-end  Stearns & Foster. At the sale they will have brand new mattresses, overstocks, demonstrators, floor models, linens and odds and ends. Bring your teddy bear,  your mate, kick off your shoes and try ‘em out.

Location: 59 Hymus Blvd
Corner: Boul. des Sources
Tel: 514-695-6376
Date: July 24
Time: 9-5
www.dormezvous.com

Q 1: It’s holiday time for a lot of people,  you have some ideas of outings that are cool and FREE to the public?

With money for vacation fun limited in a tight economy, you can enjoy a holiday in your own city. Museums which are cooly air-conditioned have a FREE days, and you can spend hours exploring.

Q 2:  Of the art museums, which ones are open for FREE and on which days?

Musee d’art contemporain du Montreal focuses on  modern art, so the color and forms are usually quite appealing to children and its always FREE for kids under 12.  Right now the exhibit “With Glass, Under Glass, Without Glass” focuses on glass, neon and mirrors in sculpture, architecture, furniture and films. Kids might like the shattering mirror one. There’s a Projection Series about Music Video.

Location: 185  Ste. Catherine  ouest
Tel: 514-847-6226
FREE Hours: Wednesday 5 - 9 pm. Always FREE for children under 12
www.macm.org

Musee des Beaux Arts’ entire permanent collection in the building on the  North side of Sherbrooke is always FREE to the public. You can see Monet, Picasso, Renoir, Rembrandt, Renoir, Dali, Corot, Courbet and more.

One show on now is a collaboration between Cirque de Soleil and the House of Bourgeron, the Parisian jeweler, with 20 necklaces on view. You can also see  Ben Weider’s Napoleon collection.

Location: 1379 Sherbrooke ouest
Tel: 514-285-1600.
FREE Hours: Everyday for the North side main building. South side Demerais Pavillion which houses temporary exhibits are ½ price Wed evenings 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Children under 12 are always FREE
www.mmfa.qc.ca

Q 3:  Some people don’t enjoy going to see artwork, what other options are there for them?

At the McCord Museum of Canadian History you can see see costumes, textiles, decorative arts, ethnology, drawings, photographs and First Nations  collections from the 18th century to the present. On now: Dream Weavers - Costumes by Cirque du Soleil which salutes the costume designers and artisans by opening a window into Cirque’s costume workshop. You’ll see  the various steps in costume and accessory production, from dyes and design to hats, lace and shoes.

If you like photography, Nance Ackerman traveled to all parts of Canada to capture faces and expressions of about 20 Aboriginal women.

Location: 690 Sherbrooke ouest
Tel:  514-398-7100
FREE Hours: 1st Sat each month 10 a.m- noon. Children 5 and under are always FREE.
www.mccord-museum.qc.ca

The Canadian Centre for Architecture focuses on architecture, urban planning, landscape design research and collection dating. Surprisingly the show on now is “Other Space Odysseys”: Greg Lynn, Michael Maltzan, and Alessandro Poli developed unique and imaginative approaches to the questions of space travel and the habitation of new, extraterrestrial areas. Expect to see models, collages, animation, and drawings both real and virtual, from the simple tools of a farmer to the digital animation of a science fiction film.

Location: 1920 Baile St.
Tel: 514-939-7026
FREE Hours: Thurs eves 5:30- 9. Students and children are always FREE
www.cca.qc.ca

The Redpath Museum on the McGill University campus is in a gorgeous grand home. It holds real gems, dinosaur bones, sea shells, skulls, skeletons , stuffed animals, fossilized plants, Egyptian mummies as well as African musical instruments.

Location: McGill Univiverstiy, Sherbrooke St. at McTavish St.
Tel: 514-398-4086.
FREE  Hour: Always Free
www.mcgill.ca/redpath

Q4: You haven’t spent anything for your entrance but you haven’t yet stepped into the gift shops, is it good idea to shop in them?

At the Musee des Beaux Arts de Montreal you can buy prints of the artwork. At their jewelry counters they showcase original designs by Quebec artisans, toys, stationery and serving pieces.

Since the Musee d’Art Contemporain de Montreal is so modern, the items sold here are cutting edge designs like  zipper necklaces,  costume jewelry designed by Anne-Marie Chagnon, Vanessa Yanow, Michel de Bellefeuille, Sonia Ferland, Racine, Marianne Alexandre, and Carole Rivet. There are purses made out of recycled 45-rpm records, pens and desk accessories, Atelier Entre-peaux re-cyled sacs, Toma vases, glass objects, kitchen gadgets, Scrap Postal albums, key holders, Cloe dolls, wooden mind puzzles, note cards, and toys.

The Musee Pointe a Calliere focuses on archeological history so you can buy Amerindian jewelry, wampum pouches, quill pen sets and Inukshuks.

An insurance recovery plan conducted by Continental S.A. is aiming to re-coup some cash by selling off Buffalo Jeans. Men’s and women’s jeans start at $19.99, men’s t-shirts at $9.99, men’s dress shirts $19.99, men’s shorts at $7.99. For women, tops begin at $4.99, dresses $9.99 and then youth jeans are $14.99.

Location: 3610 Cote Vertu, VSL
corner: Beaulac
Hours: Mon-Wed 9:30-6, Thurs & Fri 9:30-9, Sat & Sun 9:30-5
Dates: The information is dated July 14th and doesn’t say how long it will last.

Gilbert & Daughter is a great place to stock up on a full range of ladies’ wear (sizes 4-44) at prices that are regularly 30-70%F off. Their sales are even better. The famous name brands in suits, co-ordinates, sweaters and sportswear are continuously slashed and this week everything in their lower level is a flat $8.

Asked to be called for special sale evenings.

Location: 49 Donegani Ave at Sources Blvd, Pointe Claire
Phone: 514-695-3107
Hours: Mon-Wed 10-6, Thurs & Fri 10-7:30, Sat & Sun 10-5

Designer Fashion Outlet is a true outlet, which carries  Royal Robbins, Jeanne Pierre, Daniel Cremieux, Jessie May and names we can’t mention here at savings of 50%-90% off for men’s and ladies’ separates, jackets, pants, shirts, sweaters and outerwear. They sell this season’s samples (sample sizes: men medium and large, women small and medium), leftovers, and discontinued styles. They also have footwear and Kelty outdoor products.

Now until the end of August you can buy running shoes for $10, Jeanne Pierre shirts for $10, t-shirts that sold for $80 for only $5, Jessie May ladies tops $10 each or 2/$25 and Royal Robbins clothing $10 or 2/$25.  Come often as stock changes weekly (sometimes daily!).

Location: 5575 Royalmount, Ville Mont-Royal
corner: Devonshire
Phone: 514-739-3122 X214
Hours: Mon-Fri 10-2, Sat 9-1
Sale Dates: til end of August

On Wednesday morning on CJAD 800AM, you can listen to  me  on the radio (or Internet) on the Tommy Schnurmacher Show. This is a call-in show for an entire hour. We’ll be talking about summer shopping, ideas for people who have recently moved and more.

Those of you with those important shopping questions, this is your chance to have me answer them.  If you miss the show you can always write to me here at my website.

Location: CJAD 800AM
Time: 11-12 noon
Date: Wed July 14th

Women who love the fit of the JBrand jeans on their bums, will  love this moment to buy these jeans in sizes 23-32 The sale will be held in a discount jeans store. The shop is doing a special event for them and they will all be priced at $99.

The rest of the shop is full of  premium lines like Diesel, William Rast, Ernest, Rock,  Republic and True Religion for men (28-40) and women (23-32) all very well priced. You’ll find jeans, shirts, jackets, belts, jewelry, shoes and hats.

Denim King
8575 Boul. St-Laurent
corner: de Liege
Phone: 514-750-3288
Dates: July 12-18
Hours: Mon-Wed, Fri & Sat 11-6, Thurs 11-9, Sun 1-5
www.denimkings.com

Fashion Import sells handbags, wallets, luggage, backpacks and accessories by Le Sport Sac, Perry Ellis Portfolio, Sisley, Body Glove, Levis, Nautica, United Colors of Benetton, Trunki, Diane von Furstenberg, Ameribag, San Babila, Baggalinni, Antler, Rowallan, Aurora and Lewis N. Clark.

For 3 days this week, you can scoop the liquidated stock and samples for up at 50%-80% less. Payment is in cash only.

685 Montee de Liesse, VSLH4T 1P5
corner:  Cote-de-Liesse
Tel: 514-270-6540
Dates and Times: July 8 & 9: 12pm-8pm, July 10: 10-4

It’s summer, and that means one thing - ice cream! No matter how old you are, you succumb to the delights of it once the hot air moves in. But ice cream has come a long way since we ordered a vanilla pop or a chocolate cone from the neighborhood truck rolling past our door.

Our worldly travels or restaurant forays have taken us far afield when it comes to flavors, types and creations that we now eat. Do we want the full 35% butterfat of the denser, richer, creamier premium American ice creams or have we gotten used to the smoothness of Italian gelati or the icy freshness of a French sorbet?

Gelati is made smooth with milk and/or cream and in the best of all worlds, fresh real fruit. Each store, restaurant or bakery has its own secret recipe of combinations using (hopefully) fresh fruit and not powdered flavors or frozen fruit. Sorbet (or granita in Italian lingo) is made with only water and fresh fruit.

Flavors must blow our minds away. Chocolate is no longer good enough, it has to go beyond to hazelnut chocolate or chocolate chocolate fudge. Fruits have evolved from the fridge, like lemons and oranges, to the wilds of cassis, papaya, mango and even lichee.

Head to some of these fun ice cream parlours around town, where these flavors are layered into parfait glasses with some extra fruit syrups, whip cream or nuts, and they can be frozen into cake creations or actual fruit shapes. And yes, you can still get a plain vanilla cone or chocolate cup.

Gelateria La Bella Italiana is the cafe of the wholesaler Ital Gelati (found in supermarket freezers) and they create about 34 flavours of gelati (1/2 litre to go $5) in mocha almond, noisette, baci, granita, mango, raspberry, watermelon, orange, spumoni, pistachio or sorbets ($5).

Incredible creations such as gelati forma di frutti (in the shape of apples, bananas, oranges) or fruits that have been “emptied” and refilled with sherbets: melon, lemon, pineapple, orange, papaya, raspberry and coconut are here along with coppa di gelato, which is ice cream mixed with fresh fruit topped with whipped cream or coppa fragola, a strawberry dessert with 3 scoops of vanilla gelato, strawberry syrup and fresh strawberries.

Or you can ask for a tartuffe, a ball of vanilla covered by chocolate,  or share a chocolate hazelnut cassata log or gelato cake in mocha almond fudge, pralines and cream and chocolate mousse.

Location:  5884 Jean Talon St. East at Valdombre St.,  St. Leonard
Phone: 514-254-4811
Hours: Daily 8am-midnight
Other location (it’s the office, but you can buy for the freezer): 8390 le Creusot, St-Leonard, open Mon-Sat 9-5.

Save yourself a trip to Italy if you yearn for real gelati. Roberto’s Restaurant and Gelateria is a pretty ice cream parlour which entices you with flavours:  zuppa inglese, baci, amaretto, noisette, tiramisu, mint, chocolate, coffee and pistachio.

If you want some fruit sorbet, don’t worry - there’s watermelon, blueberry, lemon and more. The menu goes on to spumoni, mokador (coffee, nougat, hazelnut), sundaes, fantasie di fruita, gelati with liquors, igloos and sliced cake creations.

2221 Belanger St. East at Sagard St.
Phone: 514- 374-9844
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

La Brioche Lyonnaise, The French are known for their perfection of ice known as sorbet, and this establishment is known for its preparation of that treat in many natural fruit flavours (pear, mango, raspberry, lemon, strawberry, black currant). People have been coming for years to taste them, as well as the homemade ice creams ($3 scoop in cone or cup). It’s a cafe too.

Location: 1593 St-Denis at de Maisonneuve.
Phone: (514) 842-7017.
Hours: Daily 7:30am-midnight
www.labriochelyonnaise.com

At Pile ou Glace, you can find out how Italian gelati blends the richness of ice cream with the iciness of sorbet to give you a refreshing summer treat. You can choose from a daily assortment of 18 gelati flavours (could be cappuccino, nougat, chocolate, roasted almond, hazelnut, amaretto, lemon, caramel, banana, coconut or even vanilla), or 4 sorbets (always lemon granita and perhaps dark chocolate, grapefruit, orange, mango). You can eat it outside or take it to go

Location: 7084 boul. St-Laurent at Jean-Talon
Phone 514-277-3301
Hours: Daily 11-11