Stores | Our Story
A Family Affair Since 1840
The first pages of the story of Canada's oldest family business were written by John Simons in the heart of Old Quebec. Told with passion over generations, that story now stretches from coast to coast.
A Family Affair Since 1840
“Fashion has been our passion since 1840! A uniquely different and inspiring fashion retailer, we are known for offering the most sought-after styles and looks from the world's design capitals and providing a level of service available nowhere else. For five generations, we have been renowned for our devotion to customer care. Today, our more than dozen stores are a dazzling tribute to architecture, art, attentive service, and to a shopping experience second to none.”
- Richard and Peter Simons
1840
Our origins
The birth of a legendary family business
Our story began in 1812 when Peter Simons arrived from Scotland and settled on a small farm near Quebec City to raise his family of five. In 1840 his son John moved into the city to open a small shop, where he sold dry goods and various imported wares. To make sure his business received the latest in goods from Europe, he made over 70 Atlantic crossings by sailing ship. In those early days, John Simons was already putting an emphasis on quality merchandise and attentive service, setting the stage for the future success of La Maison Simons.
1870
Old Quebec
A golden history
In 1870, John Simons moved his shop to 20 côte de la Fabrique, where it remains to this day, along with the Simons head office. The building's charming 19th century façade and interior arches are just a few of the architectural elements that bear witness to the store's rich past. The store was enlarged in 2005 and renovated in 2007.
Modern Times
The Sixties
Creating exclusive brands
Donald Simons was part of that generation of young entrepreneurs who possessed remarkable intuition and a true spirit of innovation. In the booming postwar years, he quickly saw the importance of serving the needs of an increasingly modern society.
Under his influence, La Maison Simons created exciting new fashion brands in Quebec. The sixties saw the birth of Twik, in sync with the day's new young woman of 16 to 25. This exclusive brand broke with traditional codes and stood out with daring pieces by young designers driving a revolution in fashion.
Women 30 to 40 were also more and more on the move, and La Contemporaine moved right along with them, offering fashion in tune with their lifestyles. Le 31 pour homme, an original formula playing off the French expression for the sartorial man, was the name of the new shopping destination for men of all ages. La Lingère also became an innovation leader with its enticing and fashion-forward selection of home designs.
1961
Place Ste-Foy
Modern majesty
Our Place Ste-Foy store has always been a flagship for La Maison Simons. It was the first to open its doors in a shopping mall—a daring move at the time—and it was the first to give prominent play to men's fashions and to home linens.
The store was completely revamped in 2007, doubling in size to offer shoppers a totally new and exciting architectural concept. Its minimalist forms are a dazzle of pure white and light, making it a wonder of avant-garde design. Today the store embodies the Simons ideal of functional harmony and ordered beauty.
1981
Galeries de la Capitale
Remembering times past
Designed to serve a suburban clientele outside the centre of Quebec City, our original Galeries de la Capitale store took its inspiration from antiquity. Its roman-style pediment, ionic columns, and laurel wreaths fit in seamlessly with the latest trends.
The extraordinary work of art found in the cupola further embellished this exceptional space where history and modernity met.
Expanding out
Downtown Montreal
Urban reflectionsMontreal is a city full of drive and energy, and our St. Catherine street store is its perfect reflection, with its circular, multilevel design centred around an imposing mobile sculpture by Guido Molinari. A profusion of details evokes movement and fills the space with the urban bustle and excitement so characteristic of Quebec's leading city.
Carrefour de l'Estrie
The beauty of natureOur Sherbrooke store celebrates the beauty of nature at its purest. The copper leaves that adorn the façade in a flourish of organic curves oxidize over time, naturally taking on new hues as they weather. Inside, gracious, rounded forms bid a warm welcome to shoppers and guide them through the store.
CF Promenades St-Bruno
A symbiosis of designWhat a gorgeous sight it is when the morning sun reflects off the façade of our Promenades St-Bruno store! As they capture the first glints of light, the metallic walls turn from slate grey to a bright coppery orange hue. This morning spectacle is a testament to the way nature interacts with the materials we used to create this store. The imposing industrial façade contrasts markedly with the natural, fluid curves of the columns sculpted in the shape of callas and the other rounded decorative touches found inside. The overall impression is one of dazzling distinction.
CF Carrefour Laval
Covering all the anglesThe Laval Simons store is an example of modern architecture that draws on simple forms like squares and rectangles to form a visually complex whole. The interior lighting emphasizes the simplicity of the shapes, while the angles and cubic outcroppings suggest structured spatial design. The delicate balance between the geometry of the architecture and the bustle of the shopping floor creates a truly exceptional ambiance.
Tying Together Tradition and the Future
2008
Quebec city's 400th anniversary
A historic gift
To commemorate the founding of Quebec City, the Simons family wanted to give their fellow citizens a gift that would show their love for the city that welcomed their ancestors: the Fontaine de Tourny. First chanced upon in a Paris antique store, it now stands in front of Quebec's National Assembly, an exquisite focal point for the parliamentary grounds. This treasured urban antique, which won gold at the Paris world's fair of 1855, was cast to celebrate Bordeaux's new water supply system. After a complete restoration, it was inaugurated in July 2007 to kick off Quebec's 400th anniversary celebrations.
2010
Entering the digital age
Simons is branching out and offering our unique selection of fashion items to customers all over Canada via the web to spur new growth. In store or online, the same passion transmitted from generation to generation drives the entire Simons team to offer Canadians trendsetting fashions, a totally inspiring environment, and extraordinary customer service.
A Luminous Presence
West Edmonton Mall
A western fashion forayThe first Simons store ever outside Quebec opened in October 2012 at the biggest shopping mall in North America. The work Aurora by international artist Philip Beesley is an interactive installation that reveals the exciting new potential of architecture that interacts with humans by oscillating in response to the movement of shoppers.
Promenades Gatineau
Revisiting our originsThe Promenades Gatineau store draws its architectural inspiration from the Scottish heritage of the Simons family. The iconic prince of Wales fabric on the outside and the fashion art atmospheres created by the interlaced patterns and textures on the inside make this location a fashion circuit must. The store was also home to the first-ever café Ève, which is now closed. The café featured a gourmet menu that paid tribute to Grandma Simons.
Park Royal South
Cross-cultural encountersFor our West Coast debut, we felt it was only natural for Simons to evoke the culture of local communities and pay tribute to the Indigenous peoples of this land! Architectural details at our Vancouver store incorporate themes cherished by the Squamish Nation. An eagle carved on granite by Jody Broomfield at the store entrance elicits the link between the real world and the spiritual world, while a traditional weaving pattern recalls the arrowhead blankets typical of the Coast Salish peoples.
Square One
Tying together tradition and the futureWhite concrete, 3D triangles, and green accent notes evoking leaves blowing in the wind characterize the first Simons store to open in Ontario. Its signature art and architecture-including Raincity Robot, a sculpture by artist Brendan Lee Satish Tang-and its stairways that seemingly float in space are a reflection of the company's core mission of tying together tradition and the future!
CF Centre Rideau
Cultivating creativityWith its ideal location in the very heart of Ottawa, our second Ontario store marks a meeting between modernity and retail's rich history in Canada. Completely made of glass, the store's top floor looks like a crystal box set atop the existing heritage building, which has been magnificently restored to preserve its architectural value. Inside, fashion fuses with art: Torrential Red, a marvellous sculpture by Canadian artist Shayne Dark, hangs in the store's centre. In addition, our partnership with the Ottawa Art Gallery allows us to display the work of regional artists, highlighting our commitment to supporting local creativity.
The CORE
A mix of modern style and historical heritageOur second store to open in Alberta brought us to the very heart of Calgary, combining Simons' modern aesthetic with the history of one of the city's heritage buildings constructed in 1919. Located downtown, this five-storey store delivers a thrilling, multifaceted shopping experience and is a space where fashion shares the floor with art. A whimsical, large-scale mural by local artist Maya Gohill brings the walls to life on three floors, allowing visitors to travel through a colourful, one-of-a-kind world filled with magic.
Londonderry Mall
An environmental initiative that makes fashion shine brightA modern feel comes to Londonderry Mall with the opening of our fifteenth store-the second in the city of Edmonton. Our two-storey location highlights the talent of local artists Peter von Tiesenhausen and Hayley Wright in addition to being the first to offer a wide selection of men's and women's shoes. This innovative space is both fashion-forward and eco-friendly thanks to solar structures on the roof and in the parking lot that produce over 50% of the store's electricity needs.
Galeries de la Capitale
Technology at the service of styleMoving in 2018, this store entered the history books as the first net zero store in Canada. With geothermal wells and solar panels managing its air conditioning, heating, and power supply, the new store location is an unprecedented example of modernity and a great source of pride for Simons. Once again prominently featuring the work of local artists, the central piece is by Giorgia Volpe and there is a series of original works by Tania Girard Savoie and Elysanne Tremblay.
CF Fairview Pointe Claire
Modern heritageOur first store in Montreal's West Island elegantly fuses noble materials like stone and wood with subtle natural hues. The rich and distinct atmospheres of our unique zones are enhanced by beautiful works of art that add a playful touch and serve as a sophisticated backdrop to our assortment.
Halifax Shopping Centre
Dropping anchor in the MaritimesOur 17th store, the first in Atlantic Canada, is a place where art, history, and innovation naturally coexist. The exterior facade resembles the sails of Nova Scotia's most famous schooner, the Bluenose, drawing a link between Halifax's rich, maritime culture and Peter Simons' career as a sail-maker in Quebec City in the early 19th century. Inside the store, each zone features works of art by local artists and has been designed to reference one of our country's regions or cities. It's a visual symbol that Simons now stretches from coast to coast!
Stores | Our Story
A Family Affair Since 1840
The first pages of the story of Canada's oldest family business were written by John Simons in the heart of Old Quebec. Told with passion over generations, that story now stretches from coast to coast.
A Family Affair
Since 1840
“Fashion has been our passion since 1840! A uniquely different and inspiring fashion retailer, we are known for offering the most sought-after styles and looks from the world's design capitals and providing a level of service available nowhere else. For five generations, we have been renowned for our devotion to customer care. Today, our more than dozen stores are a dazzling tribute to architecture, art, attentive service, and to a shopping experience second to none.”
- Richard and Peter Simons
1840
Our origins
The birth of a legendary family business
Our story began in 1812 when Peter Simons arrived from Scotland and settled on a small farm near Quebec City to raise his family of five. In 1840 his son John moved into the city to open a small shop, where he sold dry goods and various imported wares. To make sure his business received the latest in goods from Europe, he made over 70 Atlantic crossings by sailing ship. In those early days, John Simons was already putting an emphasis on quality merchandise and attentive service, setting the stage for the future success of La Maison Simons.
1870
Old Quebec
A golden history
In 1870, John Simons moved his shop to 20 côte de la Fabrique, where it remains to this day, along with the Simons head office. The building's charming 19th century façade and interior arches are just a few of the architectural elements that bear witness to the store's rich past. The store was enlarged in 2005 and renovated in 2007.
Modern Times
The Sixties
Creating exclusive brands
Donald Simons was part of that generation of young entrepreneurs who possessed remarkable intuition and a true spirit of innovation. In the booming postwar years, he quickly saw the importance of serving the needs of an increasingly modern society.
Under his influence, La Maison Simons created exciting new fashion brands in Quebec. The sixties saw the birth of Twik, in sync with the day's new young woman of 16 to 25. This exclusive brand broke with traditional codes and stood out with daring pieces by young designers driving a revolution in fashion.
Women 30 to 40 were also more and more on the move, and La Contemporaine moved right along with them, offering fashion in tune with their lifestyles. Le 31 pour homme, an original formula playing off the French expression for the sartorial man, was the name of the new shopping destination for men of all ages. La Lingère also became an innovation leader with its enticing and fashion-forward selection of home designs.
1961
Place Ste-Foy
Modern majesty
Our Place Ste-Foy store has always been a flagship for La Maison Simons. It was the first to open its doors in a shopping mall—a daring move at the time—and it was the first to give prominent play to men's fashions and to home linens.
The store was completely revamped in 2007, doubling in size to offer shoppers a totally new and exciting architectural concept. Its minimalist forms are a dazzle of pure white and light, making it a wonder of avant-garde design. Today the store embodies the Simons ideal of functional harmony and ordered beauty.
1981
Galeries de la Capitale
Remembering times past
Designed to serve a suburban clientele outside the centre of Quebec City, our original Galeries de la Capitale store took its inspiration from antiquity. Its roman-style pediment, ionic columns, and laurel wreaths fit in seamlessly with the latest trends.
The extraordinary work of art found in the cupola further embellished this exceptional space where history and modernity met.
Expanding out
Downtown Montreal
Urban reflectionsMontreal is a city full of drive and energy, and our St. Catherine street store is its perfect reflection, with its circular, multilevel design centred around an imposing mobile sculpture by Guido Molinari. A profusion of details evokes movement and fills the space with the urban bustle and excitement so characteristic of Quebec's leading city.
Carrefour de l'Estrie
The beauty of natureOur Sherbrooke store celebrates the beauty of nature at its purest. The copper leaves that adorn the façade in a flourish of organic curves oxidize over time, naturally taking on new hues as they weather. Inside, gracious, rounded forms bid a warm welcome to shoppers and guide them through the store.
CF Promenades St-Bruno
A symbiosis of designWhat a gorgeous sight it is when the morning sun reflects off the façade of our Promenades St-Bruno store! As they capture the first glints of light, the metallic walls turn from slate grey to a bright coppery orange hue. This morning spectacle is a testament to the way nature interacts with the materials we used to create this store. The imposing industrial façade contrasts markedly with the natural, fluid curves of the columns sculpted in the shape of callas and the other rounded decorative touches found inside. The overall impression is one of dazzling distinction.
CF Carrefour Laval
Covering all the anglesThe Laval Simons store is an example of modern architecture that draws on simple forms like squares and rectangles to form a visually complex whole. The interior lighting emphasizes the simplicity of the shapes, while the angles and cubic outcroppings suggest structured spatial design. The delicate balance between the geometry of the architecture and the bustle of the shopping floor creates a truly exceptional ambiance.
Tying Together Tradition and the Future
2008
Quebec city's 400th anniversary
A historic gift
To commemorate the founding of Quebec City, the Simons family wanted to give their fellow citizens a gift that would show their love for the city that welcomed their ancestors: the Fontaine de Tourny. First chanced upon in a Paris antique store, it now stands in front of Quebec's National Assembly, an exquisite focal point for the parliamentary grounds. This treasured urban antique, which won gold at the Paris world's fair of 1855, was cast to celebrate Bordeaux's new water supply system. After a complete restoration, it was inaugurated in July 2007 to kick off Quebec's 400th anniversary celebrations.
2010
Entering the digital age
Simons is branching out and offering our unique selection of fashion items to customers all over Canada via the web to spur new growth. In store or online, the same passion transmitted from generation to generation drives the entire Simons team to offer Canadians trendsetting fashions, a totally inspiring environment, and extraordinary customer service.
A Luminous Presence
West Edmonton Mall
A western fashion forayThe first Simons store ever outside Quebec opened in October 2012 at the biggest shopping mall in North America. The work Aurora by international artist Philip Beesley is an interactive installation that reveals the exciting new potential of architecture that interacts with humans by oscillating in response to the movement of shoppers.
Promenades Gatineau
Revisiting our originsThe Promenades Gatineau store draws its architectural inspiration from the Scottish heritage of the Simons family. The iconic prince of Wales fabric on the outside and the fashion art atmospheres created by the interlaced patterns and textures on the inside make this location a fashion circuit must. The store was also home to the first-ever café Ève, which is now closed. The café featured a gourmet menu that paid tribute to Grandma Simons.
Park Royal South
Cross-cultural encountersFor our West Coast debut, we felt it was only natural for Simons to evoke the culture of local communities and pay tribute to the Indigenous peoples of this land! Architectural details at our Vancouver store incorporate themes cherished by the Squamish Nation. An eagle carved on granite by Jody Broomfield at the store entrance elicits the link between the real world and the spiritual world, while a traditional weaving pattern recalls the arrowhead blankets typical of the Coast Salish peoples.
Square One
Tying together tradition and the futureWhite concrete, 3D triangles, and green accent notes evoking leaves blowing in the wind characterize the first Simons store to open in Ontario. Its signature art and architecture-including Raincity Robot, a sculpture by artist Brendan Lee Satish Tang-and its stairways that seemingly float in space are a reflection of the company's core mission of tying together tradition and the future!
CF Centre Rideau
Cultivating creativityWith its ideal location in the very heart of Ottawa, our second Ontario store marks a meeting between modernity and retail's rich history in Canada. Completely made of glass, the store's top floor looks like a crystal box set atop the existing heritage building, which has been magnificently restored to preserve its architectural value. Inside, fashion fuses with art: Torrential Red, a marvellous sculpture by Canadian artist Shayne Dark, hangs in the store's centre. In addition, our partnership with the Ottawa Art Gallery allows us to display the work of regional artists, highlighting our commitment to supporting local creativity.
The CORE
A mix of modern style and historical heritageOur second store to open in Alberta brought us to the very heart of Calgary, combining Simons' modern aesthetic with the history of one of the city's heritage buildings constructed in 1919. Located downtown, this five-storey store delivers a thrilling, multifaceted shopping experience and is a space where fashion shares the floor with art. A whimsical, large-scale mural by local artist Maya Gohill brings the walls to life on three floors, allowing visitors to travel through a colourful, one-of-a-kind world filled with magic.
Londonderry Mall
An environmental initiative that makes fashion shine brightA modern feel comes to Londonderry Mall with the opening of our fifteenth store-the second in the city of Edmonton. Our two-storey location highlights the talent of local artists Peter von Tiesenhausen and Hayley Wright in addition to being the first to offer a wide selection of men's and women's shoes. This innovative space is both fashion-forward and eco-friendly thanks to solar structures on the roof and in the parking lot that produce over 50% of the store's electricity needs.
Galeries de la Capitale
Technology at the service of styleMoving in 2018, this store entered the history books as the first net zero store in Canada. With geothermal wells and solar panels managing its air conditioning, heating, and power supply, the new store location is an unprecedented example of modernity and a great source of pride for Simons. Once again prominently featuring the work of local artists, the central piece is by Giorgia Volpe and there is a series of original works by Tania Girard Savoie and Elysanne Tremblay.
CF Fairview Pointe Claire
Modern heritageOur first store in Montreal's West Island elegantly fuses noble materials like stone and wood with subtle natural hues. The rich and distinct atmospheres of our unique zones are enhanced by beautiful works of art that add a playful touch and serve as a sophisticated backdrop to our assortment.
Halifax Shopping Centre
Dropping anchor in the MaritimesOur 17th store, the first in Atlantic Canada, is a place where art, history, and innovation naturally coexist. The exterior facade resembles the sails of Nova Scotia's most famous schooner, the Bluenose, drawing a link between Halifax's rich, maritime culture and Peter Simons' career as a sail-maker in Quebec City in the early 19th century. Inside the store, each zone features works of art by local artists and has been designed to reference one of our country's regions or cities. It's a visual symbol that Simons now stretches from coast to coast!