Christine Whelan FEO, December 21, 2023, VOL. 5 ISSUE 8
It was a shock to some but understood by most as the owners of Sub Culture on Jarvis Street posted on social media, that as of November 18, Sub Culture would be closed permanently.
The business was not just a sandwich shop, as the business category indicated. It was a symbolic hub for the local LGBTQ community. Marc Poisson Leboeuf and Noel Leboeuf, who first opened the Bell Tower Community Arts and Entertainment Centre just around the corner, with a couple of big hearts and a lot of work, became the role models of pride, literally.
They also played leading roles, along with Fort Erie Pride Festival, in putting on Fort Erie Pride for two consecutive years.
Sub Culture[JC1] has also been active in the community at large with its consistent fundraising for COPE and events held for all, spreading the word of inclusivity and acceptance.
Marc wanted to clarify, “We’re hard workers,” noting that Noel was cleaning the stove while participating in this conversation. “I don’t want people to think this was a failure.”
With every conversation we’ve had, there has always been at least one message Noel and Marc want to get out to the community. With this conversation, one message was, that it’s important to know when to say, stop.
Marc added, “And do it for you.”
We talked about their fight to keep the Bell Tower open through the pandemic, without being able to be open, drawing in the necessary income to keep that huge, old church on the corner of Central Avenue and Dufferin Street going. They fought the good fight, found the necessity to get creative at times, but then knew when it was time to stop that fight.
Despite the appearance of buying a 15,000 square-foot building like the old Central United Church, “We’re not millionaires,” repeating that they are a couple of everyday guys with a set of dreams that they followed. They took risks, experienced their adventure, helped a lot of people, and had a lot of fun. The Bell Tower Community Arts and Entertainment Complex was taken out by the pandemic.
A pivotal day for the sub shop was last May 18, when Marc had an accident that left a multitude of injuries, followed by a challenging recovery that continues to this day. Since that date, Noel has been taking everything on, from long hours at Sub Culture and beyond. It was a painful decision for them both to say, it was time to stop.
Marc admitted that it’s exciting to do something out of your comfort zone. He feels that he has achieved in his life, many accomplishments he never thought, many years ago, that he could achieve. “If there’s any message that comes from our story it’s this, dream big, go for it. Figure out a way to make it happen.”
Noel shared, “We do appreciate everyone in Fort Erie.” He added that he even appreciates those who are giving them a hard time for closing. “If they didn’t care about what we were doing, they wouldn’t be so angry about the shop closing.”
He wanted everyone to know, “We are going to miss seeing everyone, miss seeing the store, being on the street,” referring to Jarvis Street. “We’re going to miss it a lot.”
He also reassured that they will continue to be a part of Fort Erie Pride.
Photos provided by Marc Leboeuf-Poisson
