Les magasins Rioux / The Rioux Shops

In Trois-Pistoles, the Notre Dame Street West neighborhood became a privileged center of economic activity after the coming of the King's Highway and the shift of the area's commercial focus at the end of the 18th century, preserving its authenticity with remarkable success. At the heart of this Rioux sector stood the former Joseph Rioux store and its neighboring opulent residence, part of an ensemble of well-preserved buildings of exemplary heritage value. Founded in 1847, the Rioux Store became synonymous with flourishing commerce as the county's largest general store and helped establish a commercial reputation that Trois-Pistoles still claims. With 3,967 inhabitants in 1870, Trois-Pistoles then had the largest concentration of population in Quebec. The sector's impressive buildings reflected the talent of architects and builders of the time, and the town experienced the late 18th century and early 19th century as a period of modernism and prosperity. Commercial activity was closely linked with industry, and from 1880 to 1979 the same area supported a thriving wood-processing economy centered on the Ernest Pelletier and Son Mill near Renouf Creek, alongside firms such as Deschênes Planing Mills, Linton, Duval, Malenfant, Daigle and Paul, whose work in wood preparation contributed to the region's demographic and economic growth.

Quebec · Canada