by NOEMI LOPINTO

St-Laurent Boulevard, recognized as a historic site by the federal government in October 2002 for its role as a home and workplace for generations of Jewish immigrants, now has less than 10 Jewish-owned and family-run businesses left on the strip between Sherbrooke and Mont-Royal.

Speculation surrounding the very public demise of the 67-year-old grocery Warshaw Supermarket began in April 2002. Warshaw manager Lorry Silver said at the time that the store was simply "scaling down." The stated intention of the Levy family, who owned the store, was to stay and maintain a "core Warshaw" in the space. Last December, however, the 20,000-square-foot space was boarded-up, and for those who tend towards nostalgia, it became another reminder of the passing of an era.

In February 2003, it was revealed that the space would be sold to the Pharmaprix chain, even though the store is only 100 metres away from the Jean-Coutu on Pine and four blocks from another Pharmaprix franchise on Mont-Royal. Some of the remaining old-time merchants are sad, others sanguine, about the changing face of the Main.

Centre d'Escomptes Star, 3653b St-Laurent

Millie Pearson, 52, is a second-generation saleswoman at her father's 40-year-old retail and clothing store. She and her cousin co-own the store, just as their fathers, Harry and Gecel Stashower, ran it together for almost three decades. The Stashower brothers came to Canada from Poland in 1952, and Harry began the business selling pantyhose and nylons out of his house.

"The whole way of shopping has changed," says Pearson. "The old-fashioned way was very European, people liked to barter and bargain. Old clients come in here and they still want to do it the old way. My kids won't take over the business, and I won't sell it to strangers. I haven't thought much about it because I'm not ready to retire yet. I'm not ready to give up my father's legacy."

Karmel Trading Co., 3624 St-Laurent

Jacob Karmel, 34, is the third generation to work the creaking wooden floors of his 46-year-old retail and clothing store. His grandfather, Herman Kraal, 84, came to Canada from Yugoslavia in 1949 with his wife and son, and still sits at the front of the store in his dusty office.

"They had nothing but a suitcase," says Karmel. "My grandfather landed a job in a shirt manufacturing company. He would take home shirts and go knocking on doors in the neighbourhood. They saved, and the company opened its doors in 1956 or '57. Our clientele base is customers who've known us for years. I've thought about moving from here, but right now there is still lots of walk-in trade. People know us and remember us - all I have to do is be serious about continuing.

"We're not leaving any time soon. The change would be hard for my grandfather."

Fairmount Meat, 3833 St-Laurent

Joseph Prepszl, 67, came to Canada in 1956 from Herend, Hungary. He bought the butcher shop 35 years ago from a Polish Jewish couple. He and his friend George Tenta have been selling slaughtered animal parts together at this location for 30 years.

"It was nice before," says Prepszl. "People went to the bakery across the street, and then Warshaw, and then here. A lot of people are missing. My clients are all old people now. Standards have changed a lot - city inspectors are on my ass because my meat is sold in the old European style. It's a joy to come here and see my meat!

"I won't retire yet, I'm hoping one of my kids will take over the business. I don't feel good about the sale to Pharmaprix. I don't like big businesses coming here. The small places are going away."

L. Berson & Fils, 3884 St-Laurent

When Marvin Berson died in 2002, Brandee Berson became the fourth-generation, and first woman, owner of the company. The Bersons have been in the same location since 1922. Louis Berson came to Canada from Russia in 1907, and got a job delivering coal before he opened up his monument business. Since there is as yet no cure for mortality, business will never be exactly slow. But Brandee Berson, 34, says the loss of community can affect her business as any other.

"It would be wonderful if this place could stay, but I don't know how feasible it is," says Berson. "It's too bad about Warshaw. Now we'll have a big company in and who knows what others will come into the area. It's a huge store, it uses up half the block. The bakery, Warshaw, these are icons of the area. It's weird to think Pharmaprix is going to be there."

J. Schreter Inc., 4358 St-Laurent

Schreter's has existed since 1929, opened by Romanian immigrant Joseph Schreter a year after arriving in Canada and selling his wares door-to-door. In 1948, Joseph's cousin Irving came to Canada, working in the store until he, along with Joseph's brother Imre and another cousin, Dov (Barry) Kratz, became co-owners in 1958. In 1955, a fire forced the Schreters to move their store from St-Laurent and de Montigny (now de Maisonneuve) to its current location on St-Laurent, corner Marie-Anne. Irving's sons, Steve and Joey Schreter, manage the store together. Not surprisingly, they are optimistic that J. Schreter's Inc. will be around in 50 years.

"St-Laurent has enjoyed a revitalized life," says Steve Schreter. "There was a time when there were a lot of abandoned buildings here. It's an exciting place to be, a real mix of the old and the new. It's a tougher age, and I'm sad anytime any old business goes. We like to think we're staying afloat, and we have a certain amount of loyal customers.

"Even when we kept modernizing, we tried to maintain the old look to the store. The floors creak, but people like it. My brother and I are not ready to retire, so continuity isn't what we're worried about right now. There is no question that a piece of history died when Warshaw did, but our world is not the same place anymore. That history hasn't just died on St-Laurent, it doesn't exist anywhere. Companies like Costco, Winners and Wal-Mart have changed the way business is done."

Marché de fruit Simchas, 3953 St-Laurent

Septuagenarians Fanny and Simcha Leibovich have been sitting on their ancient wooden Coca-Cola boxes on either side of the front door - Fanny on the left, Simcha on the right - for over 50 years. Not that they will talk about the passage of time, or the origins of the store, other than to mention they used to be located at a market on Rachel.

As far as Warshaw is concerned, the couple seem to have had enough of the whole question. "Enough is enough," says Simcha. "Why all the violins?" When asked what he thought about big comapnies moving onto the Main and buying out small grocers, he says that if he was given a decent offer, he would "sell in a minute. They would employ five people, and good for them."

Fanny Leibovich, sitting in her corner, pipes up: "We're fed up. You think you're the first to come in here asking questions?"