Most dépanneurs are very small shops owned and operated by families. They have a distinct flavor, due in part to the fact that for a long time they were the only stores in the province permitted to sell beer, other alcoholic beverages being dispensed by the state monopoly, while the big grocery stores were forbidden to sell any alcohol.
By now just about any grocer can sell alcoholic beverages, but the dépanneurs survive, despite the recent onslaught of large grocery chains from inside and outside the province.
The term "dépanneur" used to be popular only in francophone environments, but over the years it spread to the English communities and Quebec English language, and became part of the English culture of Quebec. The noted English language author and Montreal novelist Mordecai Richler used to refer, in jest, to the London luxury grocer Harrod's as "my local depanneur" in those years when he was an expatriate in the United Kingdom, and during his numerous return visits.
In France
In France, a dépanneur is a business troubleshooter, or a repairer (for example of electrical equipment).