Michael (Elia ibn Mika’el) Family

Sepia portrait of family with forest backdrop. Standing from left to right is a daughter, a son, the father, and the oldest son. Sitting from left to right is a toddler son, the mom holding a baby, and another young son. The daughter and mother are wearing light dresses, the father and older sons are wearing dark suits, the toddler son is wearing a dark sailor suit, and the baby is wearing light clothing.

Family of Habib and Bedra Michael. Mid 1920s.

In 1909, Habib (Albert) Elia ibn Mika’el and Bedra (Bertha; née Chaar) arrived in St. John’s. Their journey, like most of the Lebanese immigrants, had many stops along the way – Italy, Spain, France, the United States, and Canada.

The young couple joined Habib’s brothers, Tanous (Antoni/Antonio), Wehbe (Willie) (now with the surname Michael), and sister Otlie, wife of Ablain (Albert) Andrews. Willie was the first to arrive, at least as early as 1894.

The first recorded reference to a Michael store was a grocery and dry goods store owned by Antoni Michael at 426 Water Street. Later, Antoni moved his business to New Gower Street. The family lived above the store. They then moved to the west coast of the Island. He and his wife, Maroon (née Torbey), raised a family of seven and ran a business in Humbermouth.

Sepia exterior image taken on sidewalk in front of shops. A man stands in the centre with a girl, and two boys standing in front of him. Another young woman stands in the background right wearing a dress and coat.

Mickey Michael with three children L-R: Marcheta, Mickey, Raymond. Circa 1939.

Albert and Bedra Michael operated their first store at 204 New Gower Street, very close to Antoni. Three of their children opened stores. Richard and Mickey had confectioneries in the 1930s. Their first daughter Mary Cromwell owned a store one block away from her parents, which she operated until 1964. Mary was a fixture in the community of small confectionery stores mainly owned by Lebanese immigrants along the west end of New Gower Street.

Lorraine Michael describes her grandfather’s store and the food he carried there. Enjoy this audio clip with transcription (EN).

Black and white streetscape. Two attached three-storey townhouses stand on the left with a car parked in front of them. On the right and in the background there is a lot with a parked car and more townhouses. A wire runs across the top half of the image.

Mary Cromwell’s shop, 102 New Gower Street, St. John’s. Circa 1960s.

Their third son Freddy and his wife Ann Rockwood opened their first business on Harvey Road, across from the Paramount Theatre. It was a sit-down snack bar and restaurant that was very popular with movie-goers. Freddy was one of the developers of the Piccadilly Club on Topsail Road in the 1950s. He also ran the Royalton Club (known locally as Freddy’s) on Cochrane Street, for which he became very well-known.

Music and Memories: The Andrews Family Jewellery and Fancy French Goods: Antonio Joseph