Did you know that Au Grand Bazar, that become over the years, the reference in the sale of sporting goods, had a modest beginning? Indeed, the store was born while Leonard Grondin, (Father of Mario, Pierre and Lyne Grondin, three of the current co-owners), opened in the 50s, Grondin Sport and camping, a sports store located inside the old arena on Court Street in Granby. In 1962, Mr. Grondin decided to sell his business to René Harbor, which continued to administer it under the name of Grondin Sport. In 1979, when Mr. Harbor decided to sell, Mr. Grondin closed the loop by buying Mr. Harbor's inventory.
"This sports inventory was added to the gift items in the store that my father founded in 1976 and named it Au Grand Bazar. My mother Denise and he sold both earrings and sound systems, "recalls Mario. In November 1985, the store, at the time at 1247 Main, was moving to its current location. At the beginning of the 90's, Pierre and Mario started to get more and more involved in the management of Au Grand Bazar. Both will officially take over in 1992, when their father, Leonard, one of the most respected Granby personalities, died. It is also to pay him a deserved tribute that the current sports complex bears his name.
Five years later, in 1997, the business will become a member of the La Source du sport banner, thus benefiting from greater purchasing power. Subsequently, in January 2000, Mario and Pierre decided to proceed with a major expansion to better satisfy the clientele. This expansion will completely transform both the inside and the outside of the store. In January 2008, two new partners, Lyne Grondin and Marco Rodrigue, joined the two co-owners.
Today, in November 2011, some 11 years later, a major expansion has once again become necessary to meet the ever-growing demand from customers who come from far away to enjoy the immense choice of this small store. ... become big!
Fifty years ago, when founder Léonard Grondin opened the doors of his small business, he was far from suspecting that his store would become one of the largest of its kind in Quebec. Sure he would be proud of the work done!
