Olivier Garant's passion for tea began while he was seeing a woman who ran a tearoom in Sherbrooke. He found the concept charming, and as a resident of the Hochelaga district, he realized the area lacked a tearoom of this kind. "I was looking for a pleasant place to pass the time, without alcohol, but where the atmosphere is relaxed," he explains.
Olivier is the president and founder of Salon Enchanthé, a cooperative-style tearoom. Previously, he worked for five years in a self-managed student café at UQAM, where he honed his experience in coop management and food service. "Tea has some wonderful virtues compared to coffee, so I wanted to replicate the concept in Hochelaga," says the founder, who is also fascinated by the rich history of tea— the most consumed beverage after water! He and a group of friends embarked on the adventure together, renting a location on Ontario Street East. They refurbished the place themselves, and in November 2014, Salon Enchanthé opened its doors.
The Salon Enchanthé team consists of four friends: Olivier, Melanie Poupart, Frédéric Lacoste and Christine Hill. They all do a little bit of everything and get involved as volunteers, depending on their availability, to support the development of the tearoom.
