The birthplace of the dipped ice cream cones that made Chocolats Favorites famous, in Lévis, is in danger. The company announced at the beginning of October its intention to demolish the building erected in 1909. Since then, a citizen mobilization has begun to save the house where sweet tooths have been coming to satisfy themselves since 1996.
32, avenue Bégin is in bad shape. The address no longer houses the chocolate factory that made it famous since the fall of 2022: the dilapidation of this opulent residence, easily recognizable by its columns, its large balconies and its imposing bull’s-eye window on the facade, made the pursuit dangerous operations.
Just a year ago, Chocolats Favorites was considering a “major intervention” in order to ensure the sustainability of the premises. Today, faced with a visibly worse health report than expected, its fate hangs by a thread: the company is requesting authorization to demolish the building in order to rebuild new on the ruins of the century-old building.
Mobilization
The company has already posted signs in front of the sinking building showing what will grow on top of it. Stop it, however, ask a hundred citizens who wish to slow the loss of this piece of Lévis’ built heritage.
In a letter sent Monday to Mayor Gilles Lehouillier, these 105 owners of heritage houses in Old Lévis express their “indignation” at the anticipated destruction of “a symbolic building in the neighborhood”. “The heritage character of a building is a gift bequeathed to the entire community. […] For this reason, the demolition of such a building is irreversible and irreplaceable, regardless of the proposed project,” write the signatories. In their eyes, elected officials have the opportunity to send “a strong signal” in favor of heritage and its preservation.
The house that housed the famous chocolate factory is not listed in the cultural heritage of Quebec. However, it appears in a document entitled Heritage to protectprepared by the administration of former mayor Danielle Roy-Marinelli, Gilles Lehouiller’s predecessor at the helm of the City.
“The brand image of Chocolats Favorites is closely linked to the notion of promoting heritage,” wrote the company’s co-founder, Christine Beaulieu. “The choice of settling in an old building to develop our activities there is certainly a big challenge. However, we are convinced that this constitutes an inseparable element of our success. Ask people what they have in mind when they talk about the chocolate factory: the beautiful old house, located in an exceptional neighborhood, where people go for the pleasure of bringing those they love. Heritage is alive: each of us can make the choice to ensure its survival. »
Christine Beaulieu sold the business in 2012 to businessman Dominique Brown, who has since spearheaded a significant expansion of the franchise.
Far from the cut to the lips
The letter from this group of citizens did indeed land on Gilles Lehouillier’s desk. “We will take note of it,” said the mayor’s office.
The Lévis demolition committee has not yet started studying the file: it is still waiting for the documents that the company must submit to it to justify its request. “It’s a poorly named committee,” says its president, opposition MP Serge Bonin. “It’s more of a heritage preservation committee, because demolition is the ultimate process, which should only be used as a last resort. »
The burden of proof, continues the Saint-Étienne district councilor, rests on the shoulders of the applicant. It will be up to Chocolats favorites to demonstrate that the demolition of 32, avenue Bégin, is the only possible path. “It will have to be solid, to prove to us that there is nothing else to do,” explains Mr. Bonin.
In case of doubt, the committee can order a second opinion to form its own opinion. The house which notably hosted the filming of the film Paul in Quebecin the Saint-Nicolas sector, itself escaped the demolitionists’ attacks when a second opinion commissioned by the committee drew conclusions radically different from those of the applicants.
The population will also be able to express themselves during public hearings. Citizens will also have the freedom to appeal the committee’s decision if it grants the demolition request. In total, underlines Serge Bonin, the process can last up to eight months.
According to the elected official, the time has now come to revise municipal regulations in order to give the City of Lévis more teeth in the face of owners who take poor care of their heritage buildings. “The City has the power to issue fines, but its inspectors do not have the right to enter buildings to examine their condition. The only observations we can make are on the external appearance. This is our next project: revising our law,” he concludes.