Yes, François Décoste and his wife Maryna will be closing a chapter in the history of the Décoste family jewelry store this spring, after 75 years in business. They will keep the jewelry store open in Faubourg de l'Île until June, or at least until next April. In the meantime, sales are continuing, and customers can take advantage of discounts of up to 70%, some with taxes included, explains the owner.

As Mr. Décoste points out, the Faubourg de l'Île shopping center has seen many of its stores leave over the years: “The Méga Vente Continental store is also leaving, and we'll be left alone in our section of the Faubourg. I think it's too risky for a business like ours and our employees.” 

He adds: “Gold is no longer selling, it's down to $3,000 an ounce; a baby ring used to cost $19, now it's $100. A tiny gold chain retails for $300.“

François began working in his own jewelry store in 1981. 

His parents' original jewelry store was located on boulevard Harwood in Vaudreuil-Dorion, close to the former Pharmacie Boyer and a small shopping center that was thriving at the time.

Then, François' father, Doris Décoste and his wife Simone, decided to build their jewelry store adjacent to their home, just across the street on rue Dumont, where the Bellini Coiffure salon now stands.

The meeting of François and Maryna

In 1973, François was working at Sherman's jewelry store in Montreal, “where we mainly sold cufflinks and brooches”, recalls François. It was there that he met his future wife Maryna, who also worked there, and they were married in 1976. The store is now closed,” he confides, ”and on our 40th wedding anniversary, we went there to sit and eat, as a souvenir.

They bought their first home in Vaudreuil-Dorion, then moved to Les Coteaux, where they ” bought a house that really suited their taste,” says François.   

Doris Décoste, the founder

” The jewelry store's founder, Doris, began working in a jewelry store in Montreal in 1950. At the time,” recalls his son, ”you had to take a course to work in jewelry. Mr. Décoste, Sr. graduated a year and a half later, in 1953, to work as a watchmaker.”

Then, around 1953-1954, he moved to Harwood Boulevard, before moving to Dumont Street. A lifetime for the first Décoste couple. “Towards the end of the 1980s, my father decided to sell. He helped me open my first jewelry store, right next door to Ptit Café in Vaudreuil-Dorion, in 1981. Then, in 1986, we moved to Faubourg de l'Île to continue the adventure,” recounts François.

“It was a great time, the mall was always full, it was the good life,” recalls François with a smile in his voice. 

A few anecdotes from François at Faubourg de l'Île

“7-8 years ago, a lady came to sell some gold jewelry. I said to her: 'I'll give you $200'; the lady replied: 'That's impossible, I need $325, I have to get my car and then find a job'. Well, I replied, 'I'll give you the $325. She wrote me a touching letter later thanking me, she had found herself a job.”

“I had a jewelry store robbery 2-3 years ago. I have a class 4 safe, the same strength as in a bank. The thieves took 8 hours to cut a hole to get the jewels; in the safe were a dozen rings worth up to $8,000 each, the ones they were after. Unfortunately for them, and fortunately for me, they unknowingly dropped the container of these rings and got away with the jewels with more reasonable values, between $200 and $500.” 

Memories of other times

“In the beginning, we had just a few watch models, and maybe 2 types of battery, today there are over 50 types of battery and many electric watches. In 27 years, I can say I could have afforded a house with all the battery changes we've made,” admits François. We've also done a lot of ear piercing.

Retirement

“Today is really the right time for Maryna and me to retire. My wife recently developed Parkinson's disease, and I want to be there for her. She is experiencing some difficulties with mobility on her left side. We'll know more soon. I'm not too worried because I'll be there for her,” he concludes.