François Desrochers was a regular customer of La Porte Rouge for four years before becoming one of the owners. It was his favourite place to have a drink, be it a weekend or weekday, since he lived four blocks away from the bar. In 2013, François had the opportunity to become the owner of La Porte Rouge and decided to dive right in, into a world that he knew only as a customer. He had previously worked as a sales manager for 26 years at a large telecommunications company, and later became an investor.
What stood out to François during his visits at La Porte Rouge was that the owners were always on hand from Wednesday to Saturday. Professional bartenders greet customers and offer specials and regulars. It was a cozy place and François wanted to keep that same atmosphere. Four years later, the 45-year-old businessman feels that he has managed to retain the soul of the bar despite having never worked in the field in his life. His sales background and experience in customer service have clearly served him well!
“It’s my little home, where I like to go and bring my friends...even since the beginning,” explains François, boasting that he’s been frequenting his own place for eight years with Kim-Olivier Roy, a real estate investor.
