The enigmatic “Château de la 40”

This story originally appeared in URBANIA, an online magazine based in Quebec focused on pop culture and society.

Every small town is home to mysterious places—those unique structures with unusual geometries that captivate the eye without ever explaining their differences. Along the service road of the Métropolitaine, Montreal’s hellish highway, stands one of these improbable monuments that has made us all turn our heads at least once: Ivan & Co, better known by its popular nickname, the “Château de la 40.”

The abundance of posted signs suggests it’s a stage equipment rental shop. But what story hides behind its gothic fortress-like façade? Big subjects call for big investigations.

"I go by instinct—if I see something interesting, I buy it, and then I’ll find a spot for it.”