Slide into a comfortable bed
Linen Wars. Sheet Scuffles. Bedding Battles. The power of the pen always amazes me, and sometimes I find it a bit overwhelming how my words can shape a business venture. A few years ago, I wrote about a manufacturer which was having its first warehouse sale. This was a linen manufacturer that sold mainly to US stores.
The company had always been reluctant to sell retail, so this was a first testing of the waters. I got wind of it and wrote it up. The sale was a huge success and whetted their appetite for more. They repeated the sales, and now they have decided to open a retail store for a period – that would be Literie Liquidation, the first one below.
Now this is the interesting part. Where did they decide to open up? Just like when you go shopping for cars and there are automobile dealerships lined up in a row down one street, we have a bit of a linen quartier in Montreal, and it is around the Boul St. Laurent/Chabanel/Louvain area.
Now it gets even juicier. For a quarter of a century, there has been a “secret” Saturday linen sale on Louvain. Suddenly, this manufacturer is increasing the time it is open to the public to include Fridays. Does it have something to do with the competition around the corner in the neighborhood because…
There has been another manufacturer (Universal, Maison Condelle/Merrimack) that committed itself to running a retail store on boul. St Laurent and has obviously done well with the concept, and so now Literie Liquidation has set up shop right across the street.
Literie Liquidation, 9380 boul. St Laurent at Louvain St. Hours: Thursday and Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. We have a dearth of places to get any sort of a deal on quality bedding in this city, so deals from this 59-year-old company are worth checking out. Expect to find coordinated bedroom ensembles displayed on fake beds in jacquard and sateen, etc. High end thread count sheets (sets starting at $15), pillowcases, bedspreads, duvet comforters, decorative pillows, shams and some window treatments (starting $15.99) fill out the stock. The prices range from 50% to 80% off from this season’s regular lines, as well as discounts and closeouts on samples and last year’s goods. Multi-piece sets from four to twenty pieces start at $50.99 and “ decision-in-a-bag” sheet sets start at $15. Register online for a $25 gift certificate, and sign up to be notified of the sales and for promotions and coupons. http://www.lawrencehome.com/register
Super Sale, 120 Louvain West at St. Laurent Blvd. Phone: 514-384-8290. Hours: Friday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 6:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. For the past twenty-six years, this bedding manufacturer has been selling off overstocked products to retail customers in the know who line up to get in. There are ads placed in local ethnic newspapers (Greek, Italian, the Metro and more) to announce the date, but you can call the number above and ask. The large warehouse space offers high thread count sheets (percale sometimes to 600!), bedspreads, comforters (twin starts at $10, queen $25), tons of comforter sets and decorative and regular pillows ($5, $7). For the rest of the house, there’s now tablecloths, shower and living room curtains (and rods), rugs and towels for kitchen and bath. While they last, there’s a clearance going on for 7-piece queen jacquard comforter sets for only $60.
Universal, 9399 St. Laurent Blvd at Louvain St. Phone: 514-383-7803. Hours: Monday to Wednesday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A major linen manufacturer has set up this space for overstocked items at rock bottom prices. In boxes neatly lined up in rows, with most prices marked, you can find: double comforters $30 or $40 for a queen, twin comforter sets (shams and cases) for $25, queen jacquard sets $70, and synthetic duvets $34.99. Other items available are curtains panels for $5 & up, mattress pads $10 -$15, $5 for decorative pillows and $3 for hand towels. Don’t forget the 10 for $10 bin with odds and ends of curtains, sheets, fabric or whatever.