Gem Entrepot is now  carrying official NHL hockey fan merchandise.  Everything from caps to car spinners can be found at unbeatable prices.  Examples: Red cap with raised blue “Canadiens” on the right side of the cap for $15. Ladies black t-Shirt with symbol in pink sparkles or in pink with white sparkles (S-M- L) for $15.  Mens’ navy Habs hockey club or other t-shirt styles in S-M-L-XL for $15. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Olga’s Butterflies to help raise money for breast cancer.

New hours: Mon-Thurs 10-4, Fri by appointment
Location: 4732 Thimens, Ville St. Laurent
corner: Dobrin
Tel: 514- 335-4422

The dollar store (or now the $1.50 store?),  got us used the the cool idea of everything in one store being one price. You never had to look at price tags – and they didn’t have to spend time pricing anything. I had noticed one-priced $4.99 and then $9.99 shops in NYC for years which sold girls and guys casual clothing and then I wrote about a $10 store that I found in Les Galeries des Sources.
Now I have located a locally based start-up website which aims for the same idea. It’s called 1site1price and the current price is $29.99 for anything on the site. Labels I saw there were: Fornarina denim, boots, hats, belts, jackets, Farylrobin shoes, La Mode purses and coats, Ex-girlfriend coats and clothes, Scotch and Soda men’s jackets and belts and others. And if that price wasn’t good enough, when you buy more, the price goes down. Keep your eye on it and lets see where these guys go with it.

www.1site1price.com

With an original recipe of the pasteis de nata handed over from the Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon, Bela Vista retains the true old style taste that the monks created. You might cheat and try the chocolate version or the pasteis feijao, a treat of almonds and chickpeas, the mimosa which has no dough (almond flavored gel) or the delice a l’orange. They still make the tijelada (like a baby omelette) in the traditional earthenware cups. There are, of course, the crusty Portuguese corn breads, some Latin American empanadas for the neighbors and a large selection of Portuguese coffee.

Location: 68 Pins est
corner: Coloniale
Tel: 514-849-3609
Hours: Mon-Wed & Sat  7-6, Thurs & Fri 7-8
Other  location: 6409 Papineau (514-227-1777)
www.pasteldenata.ca

With their own smoker (and no MSG or phosphates!), this West Island shop has been able to cook authentic German and Swiss specialty sausages, smoked pork chops and veal roast, smoked ham, bacon and smoked pork hocks. La Bernoise’s butcher counter sports the meatloaf, air-dried sausages, knockwurst, lamb sausage, schublig and air dried beef, which you can eat with sauerkraut and squeeze-tube mustard along with rye bread made with muesli. Homemade whole wheat and 6-grain bread are available as well as groceries: dumpling mixes, Kuchen Meister cakes, Knacke brot plum butter, Lindt chocolates and even German crossword puzzle books.

Location: 3988 Boul. St-Charles, Pierrefonds
corner: Boul. Pierrefonds
Tel: 514-620-6914
Hours: Tues-Fri 9-6, Sat 9-5

Galeries des Sources is one of the few malls on the island that I would call a liquidation mall. A chunk of the stores are entrepots of chains and others sell really inexpensive (mostly) clothing. This is what was there the last time I was in:

Ardene (514-667-3382 x158) – hair ornaments, caps, flip flops,  bit tops, shoes
Benix & Co. (514-683-2722 or 683-2722) – deals on kitchenware
Bentley (514-685-3746) – bags, purses
Bouclair (514-683-4711) – linens, blinds, bamboo baskets, leathe ottomans, pillows, vases
Boutique Casa Kaura (514-684-6669) – work co-ordinates, tops, bottoms
Bureau en Gros (514-684-1831) – office supplies
Cardon Entrepot (514-421-0334) – $5, $10, $15 ladies’ separates
Chaussures Pop+ (514-685-1699) – inexpensive family shoes, lots athletic sneakers
Cazza Petite Entrepot (514-685-3947) – petite ladies’ shop here
Chausssures Rubino (514-685-7979) – family shoes
Corbeil Electromenagers (514-421-5395) – large appliances
Delilah Entrepot (514-684-0009) – hair ornaments, scarves, jewelry
Dollarama (514-683-7711) – dollar variety store
Hallmark (514-684-9595) – you know the name, cards and stationery
Ka-Do-Meli-Melo (421-6978) – oriental home accessories, lamps, vases
L’Affaire est dans l’sac (514-421-2422) – purses, backpacks, luggage, wallets, evening bags
La Comtesse (514-684-7071) – perfume stand
La Source/par Circuit City (514-683-4753) – electronics
Lingerie Tocade (514-685-8686) – large shop, nightgowns, undies, bras, bathing suits
Manteau Manteau (514-421-9554) – ladies’ coats clearance, clothing
Modes Melanie (514-684-3434) – Jazzy jeans, sparkly tops, gowns
Senso Uomo (514-683-9862) – men’s casual and dress, shirts, slacks
Stitches (514-683-4339) – casual clothes for men and women, jeans, bathing suits, T-shirts
Ti-Top (514-685-6867) – ladies’ undies
Top Ten (514-685-4010) – everything $10 youthful fashions, pants, dresses, bathing suits, dress shirts
Winners (514-683-6260) – full discount store for the whole family

Location: 3237 boul. des Sources
corner: Transcanadienne
Hours: Regular plus Sun 10-5