2015 - THE BEGINNINGS
The idea of opening a café came from Sam. While looking for a space for the production kitchen of his former restaurant, Les Folies, he saw the potential for a café at the front of the premises. He shared this idea with Simon-Louis, a former colleague and old friend who was finishing his snowboarding season in Western Canada. Inspired by his café experience in Australia, Simon returned to Quebec and embarked on the project. On July 13, 2015, the first Paquebot café opened its doors in the former Orient Express location on Bélanger Street.
2016 - CAFÉLIMO
Always in search of new ideas to enhance our menu, it was during one of our R&D sessions of coffee-based mocktails that we came up with the idea of mixing our cold brew with sparkling lemonade. After weeks of testing and a warm reception from our customers, the Cafélimo on tap was born. Initially conceived as a seasonal drink, it quickly became the star of our menu. With continued enthusiasm and demand for it year-round, the Cafélimo can hit the shelves in the summer of 2021.
2017 - 2PAQ & ZAB
We've been serving ZAB coffee since fall of 2016, and Edwin, the owner, has always been the one delivering it. Over time, Sam, Simon, and Edwin became friends. Fun fact: Sam and Simon wanted to roast coffee, and Edwin dreamed of opening his own café. Their shared vision and values led them to merge their businesses in 2017. Thanks to this partnership, the trio acquired Café Plume on Mont-Royal Avenue and opened the second Paquebot on October 16, 2017.
2018 - THE OLD PORT
After spotting a "for rent" sign in a commercial space in Old Montreal, the team had the idea to open a third Paquebot. After two months of work, the Old Montreal Paquebot opened its doors on May 1, 2018.
2021 - GASPE
After a visit to Gaspé in 2020, Sam and his family decided to settle there. Isabelle, who was the manager at Paquebot Mont-Royal for the past two years, wanted to open a café in her hometown of Gaspé. After several months of work more than 900 km from the first Paquebot, the Paquebot Gaspé opened its doors on September 1, 2021, with Isabelle as co-owner.
