Saint-Leonard’s Berchicci reopens after seven-month rebuild following fire
Posted November 28, 2025 3:05 pm.
Last Updated November 28, 2025 4:54 pm.
Montreal’s longtime Italian specialty store Berchicci, located in Saint-Leonard, reopened Friday, several months after a fire forced the business to temporarily close.
The store says repairs and upgrades have been ongoing since early this year, allowing staff to prepare for a fresh start.
A modern look after months of repairs
Store president Giovanni Occhiuto said the reopening marks the end of a long and demanding reconstruction process.
“We’re very excited. It took seven months to rebuild, to reconstruct, to reconfigure,” he said. “We modernized the store. It’s a new look. My son Giancarlo did almost all the work and I’m proud of him. So we’re happy to welcome back our old clientele, our new clientele and hopefully we can serve you better than before.”
Staff said they had been eager to return.
One employee said the restoration brought new energy to the shop.
“We couldn’t wait. We couldn’t wait. It’s a beautiful, wonderful job,” she said. “We missed Berchicci. Not even just us, but even the people.”
Customers return quickly
A long line formed outside the store before it officially reopened. Many customers said they had been waiting months for the chance to shop for their favourite Italian products again.
“We were waiting for it to reopen. It’s been a while. We missed it,” one made said. “It’s the Italian culture.”
Another customer said he was pleased to be back at the store again.
“I’m happy about that. I’m happy with the reopening. And I’m, you know, John and the family, congratulations. You’re helping out the Italian community.”
A woman shopping at the reopening said she had been counting the days.
“I really love this store and I was really waiting for it to open soon,” she said.
When asked how much she missed Berchicci during the closure, she replied, “A lot. A lot. I missed it really a lot. That’s why I’m here today for the grand opening and buying a lot of stuff to ship to my son who lives in Yellowknife. So, I can ship by plane a lot of this stuff for my family.”
Another customer commented on the store’s variety.
“They have everything, everything you could imagine. Even last time we came here, it’s incredible the stuff they have here,” he said. “It’s all the important stuff from all parts of the world, so it’s good.”
One shopper summed up his excitement simply: “I’m very happy, it’s time to spend my sister’s, my father.”
A fresh chapter for a local landmark
The store, known in the community for decades, said it hopes the renovated space will welcome both long-time customers and newcomers.
After seven months of cleanup, construction and upgrades, Berchicci is now officially back open to serve the neighbourhood.
-With files from Marco Luciani Castiglia, OMNI News
