Community unites to restore iconic sign at Granby restaurant

This nine-meter sign is an icon in Granby, 80 kilometers east of Montreal — at this family run restaurant “Chez Ben on s’bourd la bedaine.”

But a year ago the man eating a hotdog needed some help — its lights had to be turned off for repairs, unsure it could even be fixed.

“I think it’s a really big part of Granby,” said Jimmy Dubé, co-owner of the restaurant. “Now it’s bigger than the cantine itself.”

“All the inside of the signboard was pretty old,” added Dubé. “It was built in 1974, so it got a lot of rust.”

“And then some parts doesn’t even exist.”

But what does exist –- support.

The team turned to social media after weeks of searching for the right person for the restoration project.

“Just reach out for Facebook,” explained Dubé. “If maybe anyone can help me out, and it just explode right there.”

Did it ever – with nearly 2,000 comments and over 15,000 shares – the community was a guiding light for the local business.

A Montreal company, Enseignes Dominion, took on the challenge to restore the sign.

The wiring, neon lights and paint redone, on site — costing $40,000.

“It took them like three or four weeks,” said Dubé. “Put the neon sign back on and for a week now, were back like it was brand-new.”

On the evening the nine-meter neon man was set to light up Granby’s skyline once again — over 1,000 people came together to witness the moment.

“Really, really crowded,” explained Dubé. “It was really nice to see people around the street, and we had some music going on.”

With the exception of the 1998 ice storm — the lights haven’t been switched off since Dubé’s grandfather had the sign installed 50 years ago.

It was a way to help direct his clients to their new location across the street.

“He said, you know what? Let’s put everything in it and put the biggest neon sign I can build,” explained Dubé. “And see if it works, and actually it did, it works pretty well.”

The restaurant has been in the family for three generations now –- with the fourth coming up soon, they said.

And their over 50 employees and hundreds of daily customers –- seem to be just like family too.

Something, Dubé’s grandfather would be proud of.

“When he passed away 20 years ago, it was a really small place,” said Dubé. “It had like 20 places inside, now we’ve got over 150 places.”

“And the sign is always on,” he added. “I’m sure from up there, he’s pretty proud of us.”

After nearly 75 years the restaurant can now continue to brighten everyone’s day.