Dominique Goupil longed for a new neighbourhood hangout spot near her home in the southern edge of Little Italy. So when the fruiterie down the block, on Beaubien and Casgrain, closed down and the space went up for rent, she decided to build it herself: That’s how Soda Épicerie, a grocery-store-plus-café, with counter seating for twelve and ample space for a terrasse in non-pandemic times, was born.
Soda Épicerie was intended to open in April, but between COVID-19 and a surprise during renovations a mystery brick wall, unearthed in the back of the shop it shifted its soft opening to early December. Since that time, it has been operating on a strip of Beaubien East now bursting with salons, pharmacies, fruiteries, and cafés.