Village caf in Cascapdia-Saint-Jules sees business surge with detour due to closed bridge

A teeteringsupport pillar on the bridge thatcrosses the Grand Cascapdia River has spurred a mini-boom in business at a convenience store and cafin tinyCascapdia-Saint-Jules, Que.

All traffic that would normally take Highway132 between New Richmond and Maria now has to take an 11.5-kilometre detour, passingin front of Joanne Legouffe's store and lunch counter.

Legouffe's daughter, Vanessa Harrison, 21, who works in the kitchen and at the till, says customer traffic has been "insanely busy" since the support pillar shifted, forcing the closure of the bridge on Highway 132 earlier this month.

"I can't barely keep up anymore," Harrison said.

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The Caf du Village sells everything you'd usually find in a dpanneur,such as coffee, soda pop and salted nuts, and doubles asa small restaurant that serves comfort food forlunch.

TLC on display

When Legouffe bought the store four years ago, "itwas just a mess," said her daughter.

"It was just rundown and needed a lot of love."

Since then, the walls have beenredone, the floors replaced and new furniture and equipment installed.

The boxes of dried pasta, bags of flour, evaporated milk and instant coffee are arranged with care on giant wooden bobbins at the front of the restaurant. Part ofLegouffe'santique collectiondecoratesthe space.

Teas are tidily displayed near the front window, and shelves hold trinkets, birdhouses, woodwork andhandknitsmade by locals.

It's also the only place in the town of 730to buy a carton of milkor loaf of bread.

The VillageCafhas become a popular place to meet friends and exchange local gossip.

Over a weekday lunch hour earlier this month, the parking lot was busy, and nearly a dozen people sat in a small eating area, sipping pea soup and eatingBLTs.

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A place to pursue passion

Vanessa Harrison's favourite part of her job is taking care of baking the sweets, which she learned how to do inculinary school.

"It's my passion," she said, "It makes me happy, and it's like a stress reliever for me."

Her specialty is cheesecake.

Harrison says the options for making a living as a bakerare limited in the Gasp region, and she would likely have to move to the city to find a job in the field.

She was offered a job for the summer working as a cook'sassistant in a salmon fishing camp.

Instead, she'sopted to stay put and help her mom.

She and Legouffe have long-term plans for her totake over the business one day.

"I've always wanted my own bakery and pastry shop," Harrisonsaid with a shy giggle.