One day I bought a church...

Looking for a more creative way to work in the real estate industry, I'm interested in church transformations, as I believe these buildings have a distinct architecture and are always well-located. It was in March 2021 that I visited the Sainte-Marie de l'Isle Maligne church for the first time. Having always seen this 1938 building in the landscape of Alma, my hometown, an idea was born in my entrepreneurial mind.

The challenge appealed to me, and complex procedures would follow for over a year before the purchase was finalized. We installed counters to serve soft-serve ice cream in the middle of the church, and on June 11, 2022, five days after the church's desecration, our first division, "Le Saint-Crème Bar laitier," was christened.

At the age of 23, I managed to raise $2.3 million to transform the old church into a restaurant and a 10-room hotel. The project is major and involves several challenges, but in September 2023, the hotel component is finally open and confirmed.

I put my heart and soul into this project, along with hundreds of hours of countless work. I hope you enjoy it. The old church is now resurrected.

Vincent Lavoie, Founding Owner

Photo credit: TZARA MAUD