In the vibrant culinary landscape of Montreal, Marché Andes stands as a living testimony to a migrant’s dream that became a community pillar. Founded by Héctor Aguilar, a visionary Colombian immigrant from Fusagasugá, the story begins in the 1970s when he arrived in Canada with determination and limited resources.
He first launched Agencias Andes, a travel agency connecting Latin Americans with their home countries, then Video Latino, a small shop offering movie rentals and Latin products. As migration grew, so did the demand for authentic flavors from home — and Marché Andes was born, strategically located near Jean-Talon metro station in what became Montreal’s first Latin American district in 1996.
In 2018, Héctor’s daughter Mimi Aguilar took over the business, leading a complete transformation inspired by her family’s entrepreneurial spirit and the loyalty of a community that still saw Marché Andes as a piece of home.
During the pandemic, the store remained open as an essential business, strengthening its role as a cultural and emotional anchor. Today, Marché Andes employs 40 people, offers three times the product variety it had a decade ago, and serves a clientele that is 60% Latino and 40% Quebecois — a reflection of Montreal’s growing curiosity for Latin American flavors.
More than a market, it is a symbol of resilience, community, and love for one’s roots.