In the mid-90s, just after our early pop-up inside the Jean-Drapeau metro station, Max and Annie set up their first seasonal F1™ retail container at King Edward Pier in Montreal’s Old Port. Still very young and driven purely by passion, they partnered with Luigi Ferrari Québec and the Club Luigi Ferrari — the oldest Ferrari owners club in the province, founded in 1990 by the iconic Luigi Della Grotta and his loyal community.

With their support, we proudly displayed classic Ferraris from the 80s and 90s — including the 308 GTS, Quattrovalvole, and 328 — attracting crowds of fans, owners, and tourists who returned year after year to visit us at the marina.

What began as a single container soon became two, then three, proving we were on to something special. These long summer seasons, working tirelessly in the heat and packing everything up at the end of each year, taught us the true meaning of community. People came from across Canada — some on vacation, some on weekend getaways, some arriving by boat — just to drop by, say hello, and share their passion for motorsports.

We had no formal retail experience then, but those connections fueled our growth. They pushed us to travel to Europe, visit Maranello, attend trade shows, explore car meets, and bring back unique F1™ memorabilia for our growing fan base. Visiting the Ferrari Museum, walking the streets of Modena, and sitting at Il Cavallino, where Enzo Ferrari and Gilles Villeneuve once shared meals, became defining moments in our journey.

Those summers at King Edward Pier built the foundation of what would one day become our year-round motorsports boutique.

That container was more than a shop — it was the birthplace of our community..

Exclusive F1® Team & Driver Merchandise Partner – Crescent Street GRAND PRIX™ Festival

For years, FANABOX™ has been the exclusive dealer of officially licensed F1® team and driver merchandise during the iconic Crescent Street GRAND PRIX™ Festival in downtown Montreal. This high-energy celebration transforms the city into an F1™ playground, attracting fans from across North America.

As the festival’s trusted F1™ merchandise vendor — formerly known as F1™ Boutique Canada — FANABOX™ continues to elevate the fan experience. Visitors can now enjoy our full collection year-round at our boutique in historic Old Montreal, where the passion of the Canadian Grand Prix™ lives on beyond race weekend.

We proudly connect with fans worldwide, including the growing Latin F1™ community, thanks to our passionate owners and staff, who provide a warm, authentic Montreal "joie de vivre" experience International supporters of the sport.

Immerse yourself in the spirit of Formula 1™ and make your Canadian Grand Prix™ experience unforgettable with FANABOX™.

FANABOX™ – Hard Work, Heritage & Global Recognition

Hard work truly pays off. As drivers, team members, and F1™ staff now drop in for impromptu visits, we know as a family-run business that we’re on the right track.

A mainstay since 1994, FANABOX™—formerly known as F1 Boutique Canada—has spent more than two decades offering officially licensed F1™ team and driver merchandise from iconic brands such as Ferrari, Mercedes-AMG, Aston Martin, McLaren, BMW, Lotus, Lamborghini, and more.

Today, FANABOX™ has evolved beyond apparel, becoming a trusted destination for authentic driver suits, rare memorabilia, signed collectibles, and full-scale replica helmets.

With fans visiting us from across Canada and around the world, FANABOX™ is steadily becoming a reference point in its field—a place where motorsport passion, heritage, and authenticity come together under one roof.

Canadian Grand Prix™ F1™ Fans flooded FANABOX™ boutique for a rare chance to meet F1™ driver and current WEC driver, Brendon Hartley, and STR personnel in person. The in-store event featured an intimate Q&A session, exclusive giveaways, a framed digital art gift commemorating Gilles-Villeneuve, and a close-up encounter with the rising Scuderia Toro Rosso talent, creating an unforgettable moment for our staff and the Montreal racing community.

This video holds powerful meaning for our family. After the Canadian Grand Prix™ was cancelled for two years in a row, we came close to shutting down FANABOX™ entirely as the void seemed endless. With no races, no tourism, and no foot traffic in Old Montreal, survival felt impossible. Yet resilience kept us going. The mother, sister, and family all worked for free, helping us hold on while my father was beginning his battle with Alzheimer’s — a fight he tragically lost soon after.

Sharing this story on camera was very difficult, as it showed our fragility, Montrea's dependence on the race weekend, and how we missed the motorsports community. We opened up about the pain of losing the 2020 Grand Prix™, the uncertainty of those years, and the emotional weight our small family business carries. Against all odds, we stayed standing — and this video captures that fight, that heartbreak, and the determination that kept FANABOX™ alive.

FANAFEST has grown into one of the most exciting Formula 1™ fan celebrations in Montreal, transforming our boutique and the surrounding streets into a motorsports hotspot during the Canadian Grand Prix™ week. Over the years, we’ve welcomed an incredible lineup of drivers, celebrities and personalities — George Russell, Alex Albon, Sebastian Vettel, Mick Schumacher, Pedro Diniz & family, Zak Brown, and rising talent Kimi Antonelli — many stopping by for photos, impromptu meet-and-greets, and even in-store shopping moments with fans.

The Ferrari Club of Québec brought stunning classic and modern Ferraris for display, lighting up Old Montreal with automotive heritage and passion. This year’s Red Bull Racing RB19 full size car Formula 1™ car activation, complete with a live DJ truck, Afrobeat drummers, turned our block into a festival of sound, colour, and pure adrenaline. We also had the honour of hosting Nicole Havrda, the F1® Academy driver, further strengthening our connection to the next generation of motorsport talent.

And now, with the opening of our new pop-up store on Sainte-Catherine Street West, steps from the Crescent Street Festival, FANAFEST has expanded its footprint and energy. What began as a simple fan activation has grown into a full-scale celebration that reaches across Montreal — from Old Port to downtown.

It’s been a whirlwind of emotions: meeting heroes, welcoming legends, building community, and pushing through challenges as we develop our website and digital platforms to bring FANAFEST to an even bigger audience.

This is only the beginning.

FANAFEST 2026 — 🎥 Watch our 🏎️🏁🚥🏆💨🏎️🏁 💥Recap Video Here: To be continued…