Heartbreak in Montréal-Nord as beloved Charcuterie Noël to close after 45 years

Customers were stunned when a beloved European grocery store in Montréal-Nord recently announced on Facebook that it is closing its doors after 45 years.

Hundreds commented, saying things like "I'm at a loss for words" and "so sad."

But, as Charcuterie Noël owner Roberto Natale points out in his post, "The time has come to close the chapter."

Natale soon received a call from the mayor of the Montréal-Nord borough, Christine Black. 

"She told us we created a real tsunami," he said in an interview with Radio-Canada.

The store has long offered a slice of Italy on Léger Boulevard: cold pizza, deli meats, sausages, wedges of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and paninis. The store's bakery serves up large loaves of Italian bread, and it was always stocked with low-priced fruits and vegetables.

"It saddens me. I've been coming here for 40 years," lamented Joseph Malorni, a resident of Laval, Que.

Regardless, Natale said he had no choice. He decided to close permanently at the end of September, resulting in about 30 layoffs.

"We noticed a decline in revenue over the last two or three years, between 10 and 15 per cent," he said. "At some point, enough is enough."

To reduce costs, he said he worked countless hours for many years. He restocked products, talked to customers, managed staff and handled the accounting.

"If we want to be quality operators, we have to be here every day. It's very demanding," Natale said.

Behind him, at the meat counter, is his father, Salvatore Natale. He founded the business in 1979. Seven days a week, the 78-year-old is still present.

"I take great pride in it. To hold on for 45 years, especially with all the stores that have come around, is quite an achievement considering the sacrifices we made," he said.

But, he admitted, it is time to say goodbye.