Réseau Rétro is the go-to address for nostalgic souls who are looking for an alternative to big-box furniture and decor stores. At the junction between Centre-Sud and Old Montreal, the store offers a large inventory of up to 5,000 items, all of them from the previous century, ranging from decorations and accessories to furniture of all kinds.
But how exactly does one amass half a million vintage items, you might wonder. Passion, dedication and a desire to carry unique items brought Réseau Rétro owner Jean Fortier to the trade in 1999. “It all started when I decided to decorate my own apartment using vintage items,” Jean recalls. “I bought a few, then a few more, and kept going this way until, after a few years I found myself owning a rather large collection.”
So large, in fact, that Jean had to enlarge his storage space six times over the years.
The fruit of 14 years of amassing the best vintage accessories, Réseau Rétro aims to provide its clients with unique items, accessories and furniture to personalize their living spaces, in a way a lot of big-box stores can’t.
While the shop does carry some furniture, the bulk of its selection is composed of accessories and decorations, a niche for which Jean is recognized by individuals and movie studios alike.
