Quebec Snack Bar Overwhelmed as Viral TikTok Video Sends Poutine Lovers Flocking
A viral TikTok video featuring businessman and influencer Olivier Primeau has caused a snack bar in Quebec to be inundated with customers. Casse-Croûte Chez Mag, located on Île d’Orléans, is struggling to keep up with the surge in poutine enthusiasts since the video was posted.
Marc-Antoine Gagnon, co-owner of Chez Mag, admitted that the first few days after the video was released were extremely challenging. The number of customers almost doubled, with the snack bar now serving around 1,600 people per day, compared to the usual 800. Gagnon, his siblings, and the new employees they’ve hired have had to get creative to handle the overwhelming demand.
In order to meet the increased customer traffic, Gagnon now starts his day at 6 a.m. and works late into the evening, ensuring everything runs smoothly. They also acquired a trailer, which serves as a second location beside the snack bar, to accommodate more people and reduce wait times. The owners, who took over the snack bar from their parents three years ago and rebranded it as a gourmet food stand, are surprised and grateful for the success of their poutine.
Chez Mag’s poutine has become particularly popular, drawing customers from all over Quebec. Gagnon attributes the recipe’s excellence to his step-father, who developed it. Despite the long wait times – some customers have been willing to wait for up to two hours – everyone agrees that the poutine is worth it.
The snack bar’s suppliers have also managed to keep up with the increased demand. Chez Mag prides itself on offering quality over quantity, with its main poutine ingredients sourced locally in Quebec. The cheese curds come from Lac-Saint-Jean, and the potatoes are harvested from Île d’Orléans.
Among the enthusiastic customers is Mélanie Tremblay, who emphasizes that the wait is well worth it. Others, like Gaston Grenier, arrive early to secure their spot in line due to the snack bar’s popularity.
Chez Mag, like many local snack bars, is only open during the season. While the Île d’Orléans location will remain operational until October 31, it will close until spring.
The success Chez Mag has experienced since the viral TikTok video is undeniable. However, it remains to be seen if the fervor will continue or if it is merely a temporary phenomenon. Regardless, the owners are elated by the overwhelming response and grateful for the opportunity to share their beloved poutine with a wider audience.
