A member of Québec City’s English-speaking elite, John Simons first opened his business in 1840 near Saint-Jean Gate. In 1870, he moved it to Côte-de-la-Fabrique Street, where it remains today. Run by the Simons family until recently, the store expanded into fashion over the years. In the 1950s, it launched its own clothing brands.

1922 - 2010

Department stores

The department stores on Saint-Joseph Street in downtown Québec City were inspired by those in Paris and in the United States, in the 1850s. This brand-new concept ushered in the era of large-scale consumerism by offering a wider variety of manufactured products in a single location. The phenomenon intensified in the 1950s with the development of the suburbs and shopping malls. Three of the four flagship stores on Saint-Joseph Street—Pollack, Compagnie Paquet and Syndicat department stores—disappeared when the shopping centres arrived. Only J.-B.-Laliberté stayed open until 2020.

Maison Simons on Côte-de-la-Fabrique Street

Auteur inconnu A member of Québec City’s English-speaking elite, John Simons first opened his business in 1840 near Saint-Jean Gate. In 1870, he moved it to Côte-de-la-Fabrique Street, where it remains today. Run by the Simons family until recently, the store expanded into fashion over the years. In the 1950s, it launched its own clothing brands.

Chronoscope What memories do you have of this well-established business in Old Québec City? (unilingual French for a limited time)

Depicted period: 1967

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