Gibeau Orange Julep facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gibeau Orange Julep |
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Gibeau Orange Julep storefront
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| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1932 |
| Food type | Restaurant specializing in "Orange Julep" |
| Street address | 7700 Décarie Boulevard |
| City | Montreal, Quebec |
| Postal/ZIP code | H4P 2H4 |
| Country | Canada |
| Coordinates | 45°29′45″N 73°39′24″W / 45.4957°N 73.6568°W |
The Gibeau Orange Julep restaurant is a famous spot in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. People often call it OJ, The Big Orange, or The Julep. It's a unique fast food restaurant shaped like a giant orange! This orange building is three stories tall and about 12.3 meters wide. It's a fun roadside attraction.
Contents
The Julep's Story
The restaurant was started by Hermas Gibeau in 1932. He wanted to sell his special drink, the Gibeau Orange Julep. This drink was based on a secret family recipe. Before opening his first restaurant, Gibeau sold his drinks at Belmont Park, a popular amusement park.
His first restaurant on rue Sherbrooke Est was not shaped like an orange. The famous orange-shaped building, known as The Big Orange, was his second location. It quickly became a favorite spot for many people.
For a while, the Julep was known for its roller skating waitresses. They would bring food orders right to customers' cars! Today, you order your food at the counter. You can take your food to go or eat at one of the picnic tables. The restaurant opens early at 8 AM. It stays open until 3 AM on Fridays and Saturdays, and until 2 AM on other nights.
The Orange Building
In 1945, Hermas Gibeau built a two-story concrete sphere shaped like an orange for his restaurant. He even thought about living there with his family! The Big Orange is the last of several Gibeau Orange Julep restaurants that were once in the Montreal area. Many of these were also shaped like giant oranges.
An architect named Olius P. Bois designed the current building. It was rebuilt in 1966 to be bigger and further from the road. This was because the road was being made wider to become the Décarie Expressway. The orange shell is made of fiberglass pieces, like those used for swimming pools. These pieces cover a wooden frame. At night, the whole building lights up from the outside.
This kind of building, shaped like what it sells, is called mimetic architecture. It's a fun way to make a building stand out!
The Famous Drink and Food
The special Gibeau Orange Julep drink first came out in 1932. You can buy the juice at the restaurant and in stores. There are even recipes online! The current owner officially protected the recipe in 1993. The recipe explains how fruit juice is mixed with skimmed milk powder and pectin. This makes it less acidic before adding juice concentrate and vanilla flavor.
Besides the famous drink, the restaurant also serves classic fast food. You can get burgers, fries, and corn dogs. They also have vegetarian options like veggie burgers, veggie hot dogs, and veggie corn dogs. For dessert, they offer tasty chocolate cakes.
Fun Events at The Julep
For many years, until 2019, the Orange Julep hosted "cruise nights" for classic cars. These events happened on Wednesday evenings from May to September. If the weather was good, an announcer would talk about the cool classic cars and their owners. The main parking lot was just for classic cars and motorcycles made before 1980.
Music from the 1950s and 60s would play on loudspeakers. Sometimes, a DJ would even take song requests! Each classic car got a special number. At the end of the night, prizes were given to the winning car owners in different groups. People could even vote for their favorite car by writing its number on their food receipt. T-shirts and other fun items were sometimes tossed to the crowd. Many people loved these events and were sad when they stopped. Similar events for motorcycles and Chevrolet Corvettes were also held on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The Julep in the Spotlight
The Orange Julep is a well-known landmark in Montreal. It has appeared in the music video for the Men Without Hats song "Where Do the Boys Go?". The restaurant also shares updates and photos on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook.
Many travel websites and blogs have featured the Orange Julep. It's a popular spot for tourists visiting Montreal. You can find mentions of it on Tripadvisor, Trip Savvy, Daily Hive, Propose Montreal, MTL Blog, and the Montreal Gazette.
See also
- Orange Julius, a US chain that sells a similar beverage.
