This is the big Renaissance near my house! This is where I take my old clothes and odd objects during the quarterly fits of purge that ravage my closets, and this is where I go to dig through the sweaters and secondhand dresses and eyeball the furniture and sometimes find heartbreakingly adorable handmade doll houses and tiny wooden chairs.
Renaissance is a non-profit that provides employment opportunities for Montrealers who have difficulty finding jobs - you need to be on EI and have basic French to apply. Lots of the folks who work here are new immigrants, or people who have had a really hard time finding or keeping work for other reasons. This to say, customer service is not always a highlight here, but folks are friendly, prices are low, there are finds to be had, and relax! It's good for your patience and soul to go at the prevailing rhythm and speed of the Renaissance.