Santa's Basement (40 Years Old, Chapter 2)

Le sous-sol du Père Noël (40 ans, chapitre 2)
Since1985

Our Story · Chapter 2

Santa's
Basement

When La Galerie du Jouet took over my house's basement... a crooked wooden slide, mountains of boxes, and Santa's 6-year-old daughter.

We're celebrating our 40th anniversary this year!

As a second-generation owner, I've witnessed many significant moments in La Galerie du Jouet's history. I want to share some memories with you for the occasion: over the next few months, I'll recount tender—and sometimes quirky—anecdotes from this wonderful, 100% local and family-run adventure.

Today: when La Galerie du Jouet took over my house's basement!

Portrait of the 2nd-generation owner of Galerie du Jouet, in front of a Christmas tree.
Santa's daughter, now at the helm—2nd generation.

1985 · I am 6 years old

And sales are booming

My parents open their first La Galerie du Jouet, at Galeries Lac-St-Jean, in Alma. From the very beginning, sales skyrocket! They quickly need to increase inventory.

But in the toy world, inventory means... HUGE BOXES. Admit it: we all want a big present under the tree. Manufacturers understand this well!

Smiling child, thumbs up, surrounded by large boxes of Toy Story toys in a truck.
Big boxes, always and forever: the Galerie's DNA since day one.

The Puzzle

Where to store all this?

Renting an additional space is impossible. Our company is brand new, my parents are just starting out in business... so, naturally, the financial margin is thin. We have to be VERY inventive!

"Eureka!" my father exclaims: "We'll put it all in the house's basement!"

Indeed. My father rigged up a slide made of patched-up wooden planks, which he installed in the basement window: once opened, it allowed boxes to be sent directly down to the cellar. A truly unreliable contraption, inspired by loggers who parachute their precious logs into the basement!

Even though the slide looked crooked, the result was perfect. Our boxes accumulated throughout the year, waiting to be sold at Christmas.

Two people maneuvering a piece of furniture near a basement window, next to toy boxes.
Bringing merchandise down to the basement—a true Galerie du Jouet tradition.

A Unique World

Santa's Daughter

Meanwhile, my 6-year-old friends freak out when they come to our house. To them, I am Santa's daughter. Even as a small child, I am aware that I live in a unique world—one that many children would dream of experiencing.

Person in a Spider-Man costume holding a Buzz Lightyear plush toy in front of a wall full of stuffed animals.
A unique world—enough to make kids (and some adults) freak out.

And it's just the beginning

The North Pole drop-off point

As you can imagine, we'll quickly need even more stock. The small Alma store will soon spawn new locations elsewhere in the region. And our basement will solemnly continue its mission as the North Pole drop-off point.

Random Memories

Over 40 Years

Nissan forklift in a warehouse aisle filled with pallets of boxes.
Overflowing inventory: a classic for 40 years.
Forklift unloading a pallet of merchandise in a parking lot.
Receiving merchandise—the big boxes, always at their post.
Employee surrounded by numerous boxes of Educa and Borras puzzles.
Puzzles by the thousands, ready for the holidays.
Team members sitting among toy boxes in the warehouse.
The team, right in the middle of the boxes.
Team holiday dinner held in the warehouse decorated with balloons and lights.
The holiday party, warehouse style.
Two children demolishing a plasterboard wall with hammers during a renovation.
A family affair, at all ages (and with hammers).
CAT excavator parked in front of a house in spring.
We're expanding, again: the Galerie never stops growing.

Chapter 2 — End

More to come… very soon

(More in an upcoming post!)

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