Local Business Spotlight: Mixx Authentik (Or: A Great Vintage Shop in St-Henri That Was Opened By A Super Kick-Ass Lady).

Several weeks ago, when the temperature in Montreal warmed up enough to make long walks pleasurable again, my kids and I decided it was time to go to St-Henri. We live right on the other side of the tunnel that leads to St-Henri from the South West so it normally takes about ten minutes and we're there and this is one of the reasons my ex and I chose the flat. That said, the tunnel, named Le Tunnel St-Remi and built in 1951, underwent a massive overhaul that lasted what we thought was a very long time. For about a year, we were cut off from what seemed like the rest of the world. Major detours and the traffic they caused were the bane of our existence. Early this year, though, the tunnel finally reopened and the wee people and I decided to venture to the other side. 

Holy shit, has St-Henri ever changed in the last year!! We saw quite a few new businesses along the way to our final destination, the new Magasin Générale de St-Henri, where we bought some tasty, locally made goodies. A great new mens' clothing store-slash-coffee shop caught our eye (more on that soon!) but one place in particular stopped the three of us dead in our tracks and got my daughter to exclaim, "Whoa, Mom!" right as I was saying, "What is THIS?"

Why it's Mixx Authentik, is what is is! 

I immediately pulled my camera out and started snapping away at the storefront before heading in.

We were greeted by the super friendly and helpful Penny, who let me wander around and snap pictures to my heart's content (and boy, was my heart content!).

This store is a vintage lover's paradise: Tons of stock and at really reasonable prices, too. This collector has found new hunting grounds. 

If you're into vintage dishes and cookware, this place is loaded with amazing pieces!

I was super thrilled to come across this display, featuring Rocky B's rockabilly, two-tone and tattoo culture-inspired, hand-painted dishes!

I waited for the other customers in the shop to leave and chatted Penny up. Here she is in her favourite section of the store:

I asked her about the business and about its owner, a close personal friend of Penny's, Valérie Lalonde, who I later caught up with.

Valérie is a kick-ass, hard-working mom of three who started out studying business admin but then switched over to cabinetmaking. She loved the latter so much she actually started her own kitchen cabinet company. Something was still missing though and so she answered her calling when she heard it and opened Mixx Authentik. 

Here is Valérie, shot by Paul Brutal:

I sent her a Q & A, which she graciosuly answered:

Have you always lived in Montreal? What makes you stay in this city?

I was born in raised in Montréal, in Ville Emard, a 'hood' right beside St Henri and proud to have been! The thing I prefer is the access of variety that we have to people, culture, food... I can't imagine myself living anywhere else, but we never know. 

When did you open the shop and what inspired you to do so?

The shop opened April 20th, 2012. I was looking to open on the web but when I saw the empty store it was just calling me. I felt the the people needed a place like Mixx, I mean, not everyone as the time or inspiration to go and search for used furniture or decor. The goal of Mixx is the change the point of view that people had regarding ''used'' furniture and just show them the beauty in it. There are too many good, solid gorgeous pieces out there that just need a place to be seen 

What are some of the most interesting things that have passed through your shop doors?

It is hard to pick a piece. I just simply love everything in the shop. Ialways shop in a way that if I don't sell it, I will be more than happy to use it myself. I have to say that I love couches with bars in them, or really tacky lamps. Ok i have it-- I have a painting that lights up. It as been in the boutique for the longest time and I don't know why as it is such an original piece. It just might end up in my house and I love that idea. Lol.

Did you pick St-Henri because commercial rent is still pretty low compared to, say, Le Plateau, or was it something else about the hood?

I just love being in my area. The rent is not that cheap but it is worth it. I meet great people everyday and it is just wonderful to see a hood that was known to be ''ghetto'' kicking so much ass!!! Can't wait for Ville Emard to do the same.

Can you see yourself opening up at a second location one day?

Yes, I would love to open another one! Big things are coming this year for Mixx. I just partnered up with Orange Mecanique that as a wonderful collection of quality Vintage and Zip Zap that offers juke boxes, metal advertising signs and more... So we will start with that and see where it takes us but I have to say that the feeling is pretty good for the future

Faves:

What is currently your favourite item in the shop?

For now my favorite item is the black Bambi lamp and the ghetto blaster, but then again I could go on and on about what I love.

What is your favourite place to grab lunch in the hood?

Campanelli's sandwich is just paradise in my mouth. I try really hard to resist the poutine from Miracle. lol.  Atwater market is a great place for anything thing to eat and IGA always saves me cause it is close by. But there are still a lot of spots I need to try, the restaurants are  blooming and it makes my belly reaaaallly happy.  For dinner that's another thing and I have the say that the list is REALLY LONG.

Favourite place to grab a pint?

For a Pint here are my must go to: Drinkerie and Bar de Courcelle just have the best dj's that spins old school style with vinyls; jazz, funk, hip hop french, you name it. Those guys are amazing  One of them, Mathieu Coates is even helping me with my vinyl section at the shop.  In the summer one can't miss the terrace and shows at la brasserie St-Amboise.

If you could host a dinner party for any five people in the world, living or dead, who would you invite?

Just 5! That is not fair. lol. For sure I would go with my mom and my dad and my 3 kids, I would of love for them to meet my twins and my daughter would be more then happy to see them again,

Top five favourite albums to play in the shop:

Album's ... I would so love to pitch my boyfriends band on this one, but I just can play Fallstaf at the shop; it is a bit to metal lol. So I will go with anything from Kings of Leon , DJ Brace, any vinyl's that come in the shop, my favorite (Iknow it is not a album) but it is "Burning Down the House" by the Talking Heads:  It just primes me up. Any soul, funk is appreciated but anything that has a chill vibe!! I am actually trying to build a playlist for Mixx but I still have a lot of discovering to do 

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What, people, is not to love about any of this? Go check 'em out!

Mixx Authentik's facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/MixxAuthentik?fref=ts 

Posted in: drinkerie,fallstaf,local business spotlight,mahieu cotes,mixx authentik,montreal shopping,rocky b,st-henri,terrasse ste-ambroise,valerie lalonde,vintage dishes,vintage furniture