Jean Burger: Popular roadside restaurant and poutinerie closing its doors after more than four decades
It’s a place for friends, families and fries.
Jean Burger has long been a favourite foodie pit stop on Highway 105 in Wakefield, Que.
“It’s halfway between town, the city and the cottage,” said Jean Burger's Nancy Gagne.
“So, people break up the ride while they’re going to the cottage.”
The popular poutinerie has been serving loyal customers for more than 40 years. It began as a chip truck in a different location in the late 1970s.
“It was an old school bus painted blue and yellow,” said owner, Jean Philippe.
“We had it like that from '77 to '96. In 1997, we moved here,” he said.
Jean Burger has been operating for 40 years. (Joel Haslam / CTV News Ottawa)
Jean Burger’s recipe for success has always been the same.
“Everything was always made with love. And I always treat the client like it’s the first time he comes here, so he comes back. Do it once. Do it right,” said Gagne.
For Jean Philippe, poutineries are tradition. His father had two before him.
At 71, Philippe still peels all the potatoes for the restaurant and delivers them daily. Building this business has taken life-long devotion.
“It didn’t happen like that. You know, ‘poof’,” Philippe smiles.
“It takes time, eh?”
Jean’s daughter-in-law Nancy Gagne agrees. She’s happily given much of her life to the business.
“I met Manon, Jean’s daughter and I started working here. And it just went 'bang'. 24 years later I’m still here,” she said.
Their commitment to the food, and their 'family' of friends, has kept customers coming.
A poutine from Jean Burger (Joel Haslam / CTV News Ottawa)
“Good burgers and good food and good service and they’re very friendly,” said one customer.
“After your day at work, you stop here at six and then you’re ready to go to the cottage. You don’t have to do anything,” said another.
“Some people come two to three days a week, and every weekend for years,” said Gagne.
“It’s not nothing, you know?”
And that’s why this weekend is tough.
“It’s time,” said Philippe.
Jean Burger is closing. The business is up for sale. For Jean, Nancy and others, it’s time to close this chapter and begin another.
“Enjoy life a bit with my grandchild,” said Philippe.
“On the farm, there’s lots of things to do. I don’t just sit on the porch that’s for sure,” he laughs.
Signs reading “The End” are now set up outside the business. Customers are signing the back of the them, offering well wishes and words of thanks.
Nancy Gagne and Jean Philippe say good-bye to loyal customers of the popular poutinerie and roadside restaurant, Jean Burger in Wakefield, Que. (Joel Haslam / CTV News Ottawa)
“They cry, they make us cry, they take the last poutine and instead of a small, they take a large,” laughs Gagne.
“It’s been here for so long, it’s a big loss to the community,'' said one customer while eating her poutine.
“We used to stop a lot here, when the kids were young,” said another.
“It’s going to be missed by a lot of people.”
“Those people are just like a family for us,” said Philippe.
And to that family, there's just one thing left to say.
“A big thanks. I was happy to serve you,” said Philippe.
“For all those times spent together and talking about everything, and nothing, and for your loyalty every Friday night, Sunday night, and Saturday, that was a very nice moment,” said Gagne.
Jean Burger closes this Monday, Sept. 6.
“Seven o'clock Monday night, it’s over,” said Gagne.
“We turn the page. And what’s nice is we finish all four together. Jean, Rita (Jean’s wife), me and Manon,” she said.
“That’s what’s the most beautiful about all of it.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Courteney Cox says her partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in therapy
Courteney Cox's longtime partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in a therapy session.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Body of Quebec man who died in Cuba found in Russia, family confirms
A Montreal-area family confirmed to CTV News that the body of their loved one who died while on vacation in Cuba is being repatriated to Canada after it was mistakenly sent to Russia.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.