If you live in or near downtown, Marché Newon may help you avoid trips to larger Asian food stores in different, less proximal parts of Montreal where expansive grocers such as Marché Hawaï are found. Marché Newon doesn’t have everything, but they offer much of what we expect from an Asian supermarket.
Where is it? “Goûtez la vie au Faubourg Ste-Catherine”, stated the 1998 website of the former giant food court / urban market where Marché Newon is today located: Le Faubourg, at 1616 rue Sainte-Catherine O, between Guy and Saint Mathieu. As one prolific Montreal blogger wrote in 2014,* “the Faubourg seemed almost hidden in plain sight”. Indeed, it is now even easier to walk right past the entrance to Marché Newon if you don’t keep an eye out for it. The Faubourg was a welcoming place to visit in the late 80s and early 90s, but fell out of favor this century. We can, however, still enjoy the massive atrium skylight while shopping for groceries, which can’t be said at most large épiceries.
* If you’d like to learn of Faubourg’s history, his post on the formerly popular mall is a fine account.
Le Faubourg Ste-Catherine: For a taste of life
What can you buy at Newon Market?
While the foods are primarily Asian, some other geographic regions are slightly represented among Marché Newon’s aisles, e.g., South America, Africa, and the Caribbean. (Speaking of the aisles, they provide ample breathing room for claustrophobic folks.) The store’s customer base is reflected in the food choices: predominantly Asian but with some diversity. Since the prices are generally good, folks on a shoestring budget can join the more monied downtown crowd here in buying staple foods. The bountiful array of soy products in tandem with a generous produce section is enough to make vegetarians feel loved. Junk food aficionados can find all kinds of unhealthy treats in boxes and plastic bags.
As sometimes seen at Asian stores, a few of the fruits are accompanied by their “special” counterparts, meaning the same species but of exceptional quality. I didn’t look carefully enough and accidentally placed a “special” dragon fruit / pitahaya (genus Selenicereus, formerly Hylocereus) into my basket. The cashier was nice enough to double-check with me that I had intended to grab the special version, and I narrowly dodged the purchase of a $25 piece of fruit. The friendly staff at customer service rapidly gave me a refund for my mistake after I surrendered the huge, marvelous-looking dragon fruit back to them.
Marché Newon Photo Tour
Final Verdict
As much as we prize occasional visits to the largest Asian supermarkets in Montreal, folks who live in or near downtown can often save the trip by shopping here instead. Although sometimes difficult to find exactly what you want among the store’s vast inventory, the comfortable ambience of Newon Market offers a pleasant grocery experience. We love this place.