Popular French-Canadian Dept Store Simons Opens in Toronto

Simons, the 175-year-old family-owned retailer from Quebec City, has finally opened a store in Toronto. The fashion department store threw open its doors to an airy, two-level, 110,000 square foot store at Square One in Mississauga this week.

With nine stores in Quebec and hugely popular in the French Canadian market, this marks the first location in Ontario and their 12th store to date. The company is on an aggressive expansion plan, recently opening stores in Edmonton and Vancouver and a plan for five more new stores across Canada. The company is run by brothers, Peter and Richard Simons.

So what sets them apart from the multitude of fashion retailers out there?

It’s a style mecca of women’s and men’s fashions, including several hard-to-find-in-Canada designer labels like Vivienne Westwood. They also support Canadian talent with several local labels like Smythe, Denis Gagnon and the upcoming debut collection from supermodel Coco Rocha. And then there is a stellar – and incredibly well-priced private-label program – designed in-house at their headquarters in Quebec City. It runs the gamut from edgy street wear to well cut suitings to career clothes. Don’t think for a second it’s all youth oriented – it’s the rare store where the mix of merchandise will appeal from teenagers to grandparents.