The Auberge du Marchand building was erected when Maurille Guité built Hôtel Le Retour in 1952. Many residents of Maria and the surrounding area still have fond memories of its legendary bar, "La cave chez Maurille".

In 1979, Claude Loubert acquired the business and renamed it Hôtel La Baie. He transformed it into a seniors' residence before returning it to its hotel vocation in the 2000s.

Passed into the hands of Jérôme Pichette, Christian Bernard and Patrick Guité in 2010, the establishment underwent major renovations and was renamed L'Auberge du Marchand. The exterior was completely revamped, giving the heart of Maria a facelift. Keeping most of the rooms, the owners set up a delicatessen with a lunch counter. The restaurant business is a great success. In 2012, Patrick Guité leaves the business, and major renovations are undertaken in the spring: a 49-seat restaurant is created, and the terrace is considerably enlarged. Mathieu Kelly became the establishment's head chef that year, followed by Kathleen St-Onge as manager in 2013.

In 2016, seven rooms were completely renovated and two 4 ½ apartments were built, while the remaining seven rooms and two studios were redecorated. These improvements lead to a significant increase in traffic. A charging station for electric vehicles is also installed.

The company has four shareholders, Jérôme Pichette and Christian Bernard (since the beginning), Kathleen St-Onge since 2014 and Mathieu Kelly since 2015.

A recognized family destination, Auberge du Marchand has been awarded the Entreprise Coup de coeur des parents 2013 prize by the Salon de l'enfance Baie-des-Chaleurs.