While some large cities in Quebec are known for their endless supply of restaurants, each more different than the next, other municipalities are rather poorly served. This is among others the case in Val-des-Sources, where a local survey commissioned by Mayor Hugues Grimard and his team highlighted the lack of choice by citizens. So the municipal administration will tackle this issue by launching an operation of great seduction!
Currently, the town of 5,000 residents has only four restaurants. They offer a substantially identical menu, including pizza, poutine, burgers and fried chicken. In addition, opening hours are hardly satisfactory for the local population: a few days a week or even a few months a year. So you have to drive a little over 30 minutes to find variety.
Mayor Grimard's main wish would be to see in his city center an establishment with seating and offering a family menu that will please the whole family so that local workers do not have to leave the city in the evening for dinner. . In his wildest dreams, he even sees a gourmet restaurant moving into his home.
In contact with current local restaurateurs, the City will ask them about their plan for the future and whether or not they want to expand their business. After these discussions and depending on the responses, the town hall will go in search of new developers wanting to set up in the city.
The municipal team will offer support, especially for the first three to five years of operation, the most difficult after the birth of a new business, and will provide them with good contacts and good relations with developers. .
As mentioned initially, entrepreneurs wishing to open a new restaurant in Val-des-Sources will not face very strong competition. Other perks, such as moving to a small town where the community is tightly knit, should win over many restaurateurs.
Mayor Grimard does not say whether places for a new restaurant or new restaurants are limited, but he says he has already started discussions with interested people.