Le Marché Central: une autre horreur urbaine? #montreal

Quick Overview

The reviewer concludes that while Le Marché Central is not their preferred shopping environment due to its focus on big-box stores catering to homeowners, it is surprisingly not as bad as anticipated, noting good landscaping, accessibility via bike paths, and the presence of LUFA Farms above Walmart, despite finding the Decathlon food disappointing.

Key Points: The reviewer initially found the 15-minute walk along Boulevard Métropolitain to reach the location very noisy and unpleasant, stating, "Marcher le long de la métropolitaine, c'est vraiment pas bucolique, disonsle." Le Marché Central is described as a large, open-air shopping center surrounded by an immense parking lot, historically starting in 1950 as a wholesale market for restaurants and small grocers before moving its wholesale operations to Saint-Michel. The current tenants primarily cater to homeowners (home accessories, furniture, dishware) and include a large Decathlon, a HomeSense, a Parté Expert, and an SAQ Dépôt. A notable feature is the presence of LUFA Farms situated above the Walmart, where they grow market garden products for their CSA boxes, which the reviewer heard offered very good products. Contrary to expectations, the reviewer observed that the massive parking lot is well-landscaped with many trees, features bike paths almost entirely circling the parking lot, and has a BIXI station, although no bikes were borrowed. The food experience at Decathlon was poor; the classic cheeseburger was heavy due to sauce, and the poutine, which uses grated cheese instead of curds and is reportedly one of the worst in Montreal, was deemed "pas vargeux." The reviewer, who prefers small neighborhood shops, stated they would never return because the businesses do not interest them, but acknowledged the location is more accessible and better maintained than initially assumed.

Context: The video presents a critical, on-the-ground exploration of Le Marché Central in Montreal, an area the host typically avoids due to its perceived status as an "urban horror" characterized by large parking lots and big-box retail. The journey begins near the Crémazie metro station, requiring an unpleasant walk alongside heavy traffic on the Metropolitan Boulevard to reach the destination, which is historically significant as the site of a 1950s wholesale market.