Find your own unique pieces, with their own story, in local vintage stores. Between two ordinary buildings in St-Henri, behind an unassuming door, lies the Underground Market a huge gathering of vintage merchants with an impressive selection of retro clothing, jewelry, furniture, trinkets and accessories to suit every taste.
Underground for 5 years
Established in 2017 in a space behind a now-defunct hair salon, the Marché Underground co-op has evolved over time into a vintage megastore with 6 brocands installed in 9 premises on Rue Notre-Dame. Pionnier Rétro, Cursed Sciences, Retro Barjo bazar Bizarre, Fringuez-vous and le Sous-sol all have their own style, era and layout.
Underground Market highlights
Flea markets, estate sales, bazaars, auctions and other events are all good places for second-hand dealers to unearth their finds. According to Delphine Prieur, brocante at Rétro Barjo with her mother Marie-Line Briens, it’s often thought that Marché Underground takes donations, like many thrift stores such as Renaissance or Village des valeurs. This is not the case.
Merchants operate according to their tastes, their interests, and of course the particular demands of their customers.
When we passed by the store, a huge macramé-embroidered landscape canvas with a tree in relief sat on the edge of the wall. A rather impressive new acquisition in the most kitsch of ways, it would have its point of honor very soon.
A short stroll through the premises reveals a very Wes Anderson universe at every turn: motley knick-knacks, almost random if you don’t look at how perfectly each space is arranged as a whole. Organized chaos. Not to mention the clothes rooms… sequins, mirrors, high heels, gloves, endless lace.
The Marché Underground is a must-see in the neighborhood. Keep an eye on the facebook page to find out about upcoming events, such as summer sales or the famous Notre-Dame sidewalk sale every summer.
Where: 3731 Notre-Dame Street West, Montreal
Opening hours: Thursdays and Fridays, 12 am to 7 pm, Saturdays and Sundays, 11 am to 5 pm