La Maison Simons wrote a new chapter in its history last Tuesday by entrusting the chair of chair to someone other than a Simons for the first time. Telling the story of this company is like taking a trip back in time.
For Peter Simons, the time had come to pass the torch, although he will continue to play an active role. He handed over the reins of the fifth-generation company to Bernard Leblanc, who held the position of Executive Vice-President and Chief Corporate Officer.
Since 1840, the name Simons has been associated with the city of Quebec. This treasure has long been kept for us since it was not until 1999 that the company opened its first store outside Quebec, in downtown Montreal, rue Sainte-Catherine.
Courtesy photo, Collection Center d’archives de Québec – Banq Québec
In this photo taken around 1880, we can see that each store front was adorned with awnings. According to historian Jean-Marie Lebel, this was intended to protect passers-by from bad weather by offering them the opportunity to shop at their leisure.
The big shop
The journalist from Montreal Journal Monelle Saindon then wrote: “That’s it! The fashion department store in the small town of Quebec has carved out its place alongside the Montreal giants”.
Then she added: “The Simons store is like no other. At the same time vast and small, multiple and cosy, brand new and all in curves, it offers a new shopping atmosphere, halfway between the big luxury boutique and the friendly department store”.
At that time, the destinies of the company were assured by Gordon Donald Simons, who had four children, including Peter and Richard. The patriarch died in 2018, at the age of 89.
The years that followed were marked by the expansion of the company in Western Canada and Ontario. Today, there are 15 stores and a 16and branch that will open in Pointe-Claire in May.
To dive into the history of La Maison Simons is to take a journey that takes you back to the heart of Old Quebec, to the era of horse-drawn carriages. In 1840, John left the family farm at the age of 17 to open a small shop in Quebec where dry goods and various imported products were sold.
Photo courtesy, George A. Driscoll Fund – Banq Quebec
The signage affixed to Simons’ commercial facade has evolved over the years, as can be seen in this shot taken through the gates of the Notre-Dame de Québec basilica-cathedral, around 1950.
Old Quebec
“Old Quebec was half English, half French. All retail trade was concentrated on Saint-Jean Street, Côte de la Fabrique and Buade Street. That’s where the business was and that’s where Mr. Simons started out. The majority of the population of Quebec lived in Old Quebec and Saint-Roch,” recalls Jean-Marie Lebel, historian.
After having a store on rue Saint-Jean, John Simons moved in 1870 to the current store at 20, côte de la Fabrique, which still houses the head office today, in the historic district.
At that time, many clothes were made at home.
“It was even written on the front of the store Dry goods. It was an expression that came from England. It meant that we sold fabric and everything we needed for sewing, in addition to ‘dry’ products”, he adds.
Photo courtesy, Department of Culture and Communications Fund – Banq Quebec
Around 1942, we notice the omnipresence of English in posters in Quebec, both on road signs and on commercial buildings, including that of the Maison Simons, on the Côte de la Fabrique.
Imported products
They sold quality products such as Scottish wool, leather from England and linen from Ireland. Twice a year, John crossed the Atlantic to get supplies in Europe.
The Laliberté store, in lower town, arrived in 1867. According to the historian, there is still a store in Quebec founded before Simons. This is the Darlington shop, rue Buade, created in 1775 and specializing in military clothing, whose main customer was the British army. Today, women’s clothing is sold there.
Holt-Renfrew was also born in Quebec, on rue Buade, in 1837. However, the retailer closed the only store in Quebec in 2015, which was then located in Place Sainte-Foy. “There were big stores in the area. It was the hottest thing at the time. This is where we used to go shopping. Later, around 1900, Saint-Joseph Street, in the lower town, took over. It was a major commercial street until the arrival of shopping centers in the 1960s,” continued the historian.
Archival photo
In 1998, Peter Simons went to the construction site of the future Simons store on Sainte-Catherine Street in Montreal, where he spoke with workers.
Tied to its roots
The Simons family, whose origins are Scottish, demonstrated in 2008 how attached they are to their roots by offering the magnificent Tourny fountain as a gift to the population, on the occasion of the 400and anniversary of the founding of the city. Peter Simons had discovered the fountain at an antique dealer near Paris.
The fountain has been refurbished and has become a must-see attraction in Quebec City, opposite the Parliament Building.
Turning points
- Founded in 1840 by John Simons, who was only 17 years old
- The first Simons & Orkney store was located at the corner of Saint-Jean and Sainte-Angèle streets
- Twenty years later, Mr. Simons moved his store to the Côte de la Fabrique
- The family lived above the business. John married an Irish Catholic and they had ten children.
- John Simons and James Orkney remained partners for more than a quarter of a century. Archibald Foulds and Jean Minguy in turn joined the company, which became exclusively family-owned in 1918.
- Ladies’ tailoring was introduced in 1937.
Source: City of Quebec
The work of 5 generations
- 5 generations (John, Archibald, Gordon Donald, Peter and Richard and their descendants)
- John Simons is buried in Mount Hermon Cemetery, Sillery
- In 2018, the City of Quebec named a street in honor of John Simons, in the Des Châtels district (this is the street that leads to the new distribution center)
- In all, Maison Simons has nearly 3,000 employees
Source: City of Quebec
Stores across the country
- 1870: Opening of the store on the Côte de la Fabrique
- 1961: Place Sainte-Foy
- nineteen eighty one : Galeries de la Capitale (relocation in 2018)
- 1999: Downtown Montreal
- 1999: Carrefour de l’Estrie, in Sherbrooke
- 2001: Promenade St-Bruno
- 2002: Carrefour Laval
- 2012: West Edmonton Mall
- 2013: Galleries of Anjou
- 2015 : Gatineau Parkways
- 2015 : Vancouver
- 2016: Mississauga
- 2016: Ottawa
- 2017: Calgary
- 2017: Londonderry Mall, Edmonton
- 2018: Opening of the new Galeries de la Capitale store
- 2022: Opening soon at the Fairview Pointe-Claire Center
Origins of Adam and Eve
Who knows the meaning of the green leaf that appears alongside the name Simons? The leaf recalls the cycle of the seasons and perpetual renewal. To create it, Donald Simons called on Quebec artist Claude A. Simard. The idea for the leaf is said to have arisen as the two men were discussing what best symbolized Adam and Eve’s first garment.
Source: Maison Simons