Auberge Willow Place Inn owner Michel Poirier in 2015 on the popular terrace with general manager Christine Booth and assistant manager Nancy Campeau. (Phototheque)
Historic Hudson inn closing in November
A venerable Hudson institution will close its doors in a few months barring a last minute sale to the right buyer.
It was announced this week that the Auberge Willow Inn, a historic Hudson waterfront hotel, restaurant and pub that’s been the regional locale of choice for countless special events throughout the years, will close on Nov. 1.
Sylvie Crevier, a spokesperson for the inn, said Willow owner Michel Poirier decided to shut down for personal reasons.
“He has been thinking of it for a few months,” Crevier said, adding, “Mr. Poirier will be 69 and he wants to enjoy his retirement.”
Poirier is the former owner of IGA Poirier stores in Saint Lazare and Hudson. In June he sold both to Sobeys Inc.
Crevier said the businessman, who is married and has children and grandchildren, wants to spend time with his family.
At least 40 regular employees will be out of a job in November.
Poirier recently met with the staff, which doubles in the summer to accommodate the inn’s popular terrace season, to announce the decision.
“They understood… they will either find another job, or decide to retire or go on unemployment until they find something else,” Crevier noted.
She said the employee with the most seniority has been at the inn in the same job for 32 years.
According to Crevier, Poirier will field all serious sale offers. She said there has been interest.
Visitors to the waterfront inn could sit on the grounds and enjoy the view of Oka across the river. (Phototheque)
“There are people interested in meeting with Mr. Poirier,” she confirmed, adding, “He’s away right now but they want to meet when he’s back.” 
Surprise decision
Admitting that the atmosphere at the inn has been subdued since the announcement, Crevier confirmed that anyone who has booked the Willow for weddings or other special events taking place after it closes, has been contacted.
Meanwhile, those who got their start working at the inn which traditionally employed local high school, college and university students each summer, are taking to social media to convey their feelings.
“This saddens me greatly,” Mike de Sévigné wrote. “It was my first official job… The Willow was like a family to me.”
“I spent about 5-years of my life here. Made the best friends and summer memories I could ask for and had the pleasure of serving many of the towns [sic] awesome locals,” Derek Kreimes wrote on a Facebook page started for former staff members.
“I am at a loss for words to describe how much I owe this place. Not only did it provide me with a job for 10 years, instilling in me many life lessons…. I can say with absolute certainty I would not be the person I am today (without it),” wrote Jordan Rose Taylor.
Historic home
Originally built as the private home of George Mallette and his family in the early 1820s, the building was purchased a few years later by François Xavier Desjardins and turned into a store that later became the headquarters of the Patriot Movement. It later served as a boarding house and hotel before settling into its current designation. The original inn burned to the ground in June, 1989. It was rebuilt as exactly as possible to resemble the original Willow. A fieldstone fireplace in the pub is the only remaining part of the old inn.
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