Simpsons

What was in Simons downtown before it was Simons. Well lets work backwards. It is currently a clothing department store named Simons and a cinema named Scotia Bank. Before that it was Simpsons. Before that it was Simpson's (see the difference). The change came because of pressure from french Quebecers (with an appostrophe, it does not seem so french).

Before it's current incarnation, the Simpsons store in Montreal shrunk considerably. In its last incarnation, it was a tunnel of plywood that connected Place Montreal Trust to Cours Mont-Royal. In its before last incarnation, it was a department store, but only on the main floor and in the basement. Before that, it was a beautiful store, that was in competition with The Bay and Eatons (and Kresges). Ask me about the layout, and it is a blur, as I get confused with the The Bay and Eatons also.

The Montreal store ceased to exist in 1991.

In 1987, the Hudsons Bay company acquired Simpsons, but was forced to end the partnership due to federal competition laws.

In 1952, Simpsons teamed up with Sears, and became Simpons-Sears Ltd.

I have been unable to find the exact opening date, but it was 1897 +- 50 years.

Robert Simpson opened his first store at Toronto, Ontario in 1871. When he died in 1897, his store was taken over and expansion started in Montreal, Halifax and Regina.

And that was Simpsons (not to be confused with the Simpsons)