CSM Studio

Scott Meleskie’s background in advertising inspired him to open Clark Street Mercantile — a gentlemen’s boutique store — in 2013. “I was interested in up and coming brands,” he says. “I had a couple of blogs on fashion and new ideas, so there was always the thought of having a shop that would show-case new products.” At the same time, he had noticed a limited range of menswear around Montreal, a lot of stores stocking a lot of similar items — and not what he was looking for.

“I had worked in advertising for almost ten years and I was getting bored,” he tells me. “The 9-5 life was really 9-9 and I wanted a change, so in December 2012 I quit.”

He had not expected to start the new venture so quickly. “My idea was to work freelance for a while, gathering funds and working on branding,” he says. “This opportunity arose by happenstance around the 27th December. I was walking by with my wife and saw this place boarded up. It was an ideal location but it took over a month to get in touch with the owner. I had the place from February.”