Épicerie feud erupts in Saint-Joseph-du-Lac over Super C plan
At 00: 00 ET on Friday, April 17, 2026, the debate over an épicerie proposal in Saint-Joseph-du-Lac sharpened into a local standoff. Residents in the municipality of 7, 000 are split between wanting lower grocery prices and backing a project that remains blocked by the town’s zoning rules. Beauward Immobilier wants to build a Super C, a Jean Coutu pharmacy and a Dollarama on a 150, 000-square-foot site.
Épicerie project meets resistance
The proposal has been in play for about a year, but the key barrier now is municipal zoning. Saint-Joseph-du-Lac’s rules do not allow the kind of commercial building Beauward Immobilier wants, because the current regulation calls for three- to four-storey buildings with only one commercial floor. The company had planned to invest $15 million to develop the site.
The dispute centers on whether the town should grant a rezoning. The mayor has refused to move ahead, and the refusal has pushed the issue into court. Bon Sable, the company owned by the Rybicki family, tried to change the zoning for the project, but the mayor rejected that request. The matter then went to Superior Court, and the town’s effort to have the request dismissed was rejected in February.
Residents want lower bills
In a short roadside sample, the response from residents leaned strongly in favor of the project. Many said the rising cost of groceries is making the current options harder to afford, and several said a new store would save them time and money.
Robert Grégoire, speaking in the parking lot of the IGA in Saint-Joseph-du-Lac, said he already goes to the Super C in Deux-Montagnes for his groceries. Michelle Trottier said she and others would likely be among the first customers, pointing to specials that she said are more attractive than those at the IGA. Sylvie Clément said the new site would be much closer and described the current store as more expensive.
The project would place an épicerie in a sector where residents say there is only one food market nearby. Lou Juneau, vice-president for development and construction at Beauward Immobilier, said the area is not one that needs heavy densification, but he added that there is only one grocery store in that location.
Officials, owners and the zoning fight
Gilbert Rybicki, speaking about the dispute, said municipalities need money and that development is being turned away even when it is offered. He also questioned the town’s stance, saying: “I do not know if they think they are in Westmount. ” The comments underline how the issue has moved beyond a simple retail project and into a broader argument over growth, tax base and municipal control.
Beauward Immobilier’s position is that the site can support the development, while the municipality’s rules currently block it. The legal process now appears to be the main path forward, and no timeline for approval has been given.
What happens next
For now, Saint-Joseph-du-Lac residents who want the project say they may have to wait another year before seeing results. The épicerie dispute remains tied to zoning, court proceedings and the mayor’s refusal to change course. If the project advances, the town could see new retail options on the 150, 000-square-foot site; if it does not, the debate over the épicerie is likely to stay a live issue in the community.
