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| The older part of the Simpson store fronts on Yonge, Richmond, and Queen Streets. |
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| In 1929, the store expanded into a 9-story Moderne addition on the corner of Richmond and Bay Streets. |
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| Simpson's, extending from Yonge Street to Bay Street along Richmond Street, focusing on the 1929 addition. |
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| The Arcadian Court was a feature of the 1929 building and is one of the most famous deaprtment store restaurants in all of the world. |
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The Robert Simpson Company, Ltd.
Yonge Street at Queen
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Subway Level
Power Tools 692 • Hardware 690 • Garden Shop • Paints 685 • Builder’s Supplies • Auto Accessories • Market Square • Coffee Shop • Rainbow RoomSimpsons Budget Floor
Street Floor
Jewellery 227 • Silver 228 • Cosmetics 204 • Drugs and Vitamins • Scarves 224 • Gloves 230 • Street Floor Blouses 224 • Handbags 225 • Small Leather Goods 225 • Hosiery 229 • Street Floor Lingerie 206 • Wig Bar 204 • Stationery 203 • Personalized Stationery 444 • Notions 202 • Plant Patio 520 • Idea Shop • Arcadian Court Counter • Bakery Centre
Store for Men Men’s Furnishings 251 • Men’s Shoes 285 • West End Shop • Smoke Shop 524 • Men’s Sportswear 260 • Men’s Clothing 266 • Men’s Tailored-To-Measure Shop 264
Second Floor
Fabric Centre 365 • Yarns 368 • Sewing Machines 371 • Luggage 436 • Children’s Wear 335 • Children’s Shoes • Lingerie 325 • Sleepwear 326 • Women’s Shoes 276 • Portrait Studio • Simpsons Travel Service • Store for Young Men 269 • Threadmill 278 • Stage II 268
Third Floor
Sportswear 304 • Dresses 307 • Coats and Suits • ‘The Room’ 308 • The Velvet Turtle • ‘The Room’ Bridal Salon • St. Regis Dresses 305 • St. Regis Coats ans Suits 305 • St. Regis Sportswear 305 • Millinery 312 • Wiggery • Elevation 3 302 • Direction Shop • Bride’s Counsel • Fur Salon 311
Fourth Floor
Linens and Beddings 351 • Curtains and Draperies 385 • Pictures and Mirrors • Broadloom Bazaar 376 • Rugs 376 • Toytown 470 • Sporting Goods 469 • Credit Office • Customer Service
Fifth Floor
Furniture • Rooms • Mattresses • Avon Galleries • Old Colony Corner • Interior Decorating Service • Music Centre 398
Sixth Floor
China 445 • Rosenthal Studio • Wedgwood Room • Bride’s Gift Registry • Glassware 445 • Treasure House Antiques • Gifts • All-Canadian Shop • Housewares 426 • Gourmet Kitchen • Appliances 430 • Small Appliances 424 • Vacuums 371 • Lamps 439 • Television Radio 395 • Elizabeth Arden Salon • Gift Wrapping • Optical and Hearing Aids
Seventh Floor
Auditorium • Photo Finishing Kiosk
Eighth Floor
Arcadian Court • Panorama Room
Ninth Floor
Mezzanine Grill
31 Richmond Street West (Parkade)
Flower Shop • Dry Cleaning Service
Lower Street Floor
Power Tools 156 • Hardware 690 • Garden Shop 156 • Paints 156 • Doors and Windows 162 • Auto Accessories 193 • Toytown 158
Simpsons Budget Floor
Street Floor
Jewellery 103 • Silver 228 • Cosmetics 101 • Drugs and Vitamins 101 • Scarves 107 • Gloves 107 • Street Floor Blouses 224 • Handbags 102 • Small Leather Goods 102 • Hosiery 107 • Wig Bar 204 • Stationery 185 • Personalized Stationery 185 • Plant Patio 520 • Idea Shop • Candies
Store for Men Men’s Furnishings 113 • Men’s Shoes 122 • West End Shop • Smoke Shop 524 • Men’s Sportswear 260
Second Floor
Luggage 160 • Notions 185 • Children’s Wear 144 • Girls' Shop 148 • Boys' Shop 145 • Children’s Shoes 121 • Women’s Shoes 121 • Sports World 158 • Trim-a-Home Shop
Store for Men Men’s Clothing 112 • Men’s Tailored-To-Measure Shop 264 • Store for Young Men 115 • Threadmill 278 • Stage II 268
Third Floor
Sportswear 136 • Dresses 134 • Coats and Suits 131 • ‘The Room’ 133 • ‘The Room’ Bridal Salon • St. Regis Dresses 135 • St. Regis Coats and Suits 135 • St. Regis Sportswear 135 • Millinery 130 • Wiggery 130 • Elevation 3 143 • Direction Shop • Bride’s Counsel • Fur Salon 140 • Lingerie 325 • Sleepwear 326
Fourth Floor
Fabric Centre 127 • Yarns and Art Goods 127 • Sewing Machines 120 • Linens and Beddings 151 • Curtains and Draperies 153 • Pictures and Mirrors 143 • Credit Office • Customer Service • China 157 • Bride’s Gift Registry • Glassware 157 • Treasure House Antiques 169 • Gifts • All-Canadian Shop • Housewares 155 • Gourmet Kitchen • Small Appliances 197 • Vacuums 371 • Lamps 154 • Elizabeth Arden Salon
Fifth Floor
Furniture 195 • Rooms • Mattresses • Avon Galleries • Interior Decorating Service • Television Radio 198 • Music Centre 198 • Floor Coverings 150 • Appliances 197
Sixth Floor
The Arcadian Room • Coffee Shop • Arcadian Counter • Bakery Centre
Lower Level
Street Floor
Second Floor
Third Floor
Fourth Floor
Fifth Floor
Queen Street Level
Power Tools 156 • Hardware 690 • Garden Shop 156 • Paints 156 • Doors and Windows 162 • Auto Accessories 193 • Toytown 158 • Television Radio 47 • Music Centre 47 • Appliances 48 • Lamps 154 • Luggage 14 • Stationery 11 • Personalized Stationery 11 • Plant Patio 520 • Idea Shop • Candies • Sports World 158 • Trim-a-Home Shop
Sparks Street Level
Jewellery 103 • Cosmetics 19 • Drugs and Vitamins 19 • Scarves 107 • Gloves 107 • Street Floor Blouses 34 • Handbags 41 • Small Leather Goods 41 • Hosiery 43 • Wig Bar 38 • Notions 185Store for Men Men’s Furnishings 22 • Men’s Shoes 25 • West End Shop • Smoke Shop 524 • Men’s Sportswear 23 • Men’s Clothing 23 • Men’s Tailored-To-Measure Shop 264 • Store for Young Men 115 • Threadmill 278 • Stage II 268
Gift Wrapping • Credit Office • Customer Service
Second Floor
Sportswear 34 • Dresses 33 • Coats and Suits 31 • ‘The Room’ 33 • ‘The Room’ Bridal Salon • Direction Shop • Bride’s Counsel • Fur Salon 40 • Beauty Salon
Third Floor
Elevation 3 35 • Lingerie 325 • Sleepwear 326 • Children’s Wear 144 • Girls' Shop 148 • Boys' Shop 145 • Children’s Shoes 121 • Lingerie 142 • Sleepwear 141 • Millinery 130 • Wiggery 130 • Women’s Shoes 121
Fourth Floor
Fabric Centre 127 • Yarns and Art Goods 127 • Sewing Machines 120 • Linens and Beddings 151 • Curtains and Draperies 153 • Pictures and Mirrors 143 • Silver 228 • China 157 • Bride’s Gift Registry • Glassware 157 • Treasure House Antiques 169 • Gifts • All-Canadian Shop
Fifth Floor
Furniture 195 • Rooms • Mattresses • Avon Galleries • Interior Decorating Service • Housewares 155 • Gourmet Kitchen • Small Appliances 197 • Vacuums 371 • The Rideau Room
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| London 149 Dundas Street December, 1944 (+1953/1961/1969) 209,000 s.f. The Arcadian Room Coffee Shop |
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| Regina 11th St at Howard December, 1946 (+1951) Luncheonette |
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| Cedarbrae Lawrence E. and Markham August, 1962 The Arcadian Room |
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| Yorkdale The Freeway and Dufferin fenruary, 1964 300,000 s.f. The Court Room |
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| Brampton Shoppers' World 1969 151,000 s.f. |
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| Fairview Don Mills Road and Sheppard August, 1970 150,000 s.f. The Arcadian Room |
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| Sherway Queen Elizabeth Way and Highway 27 February, 1971 223,000 s.f. The Restaurant on the Court |
Ottawa
118 Sparks Street
July, 1971
The Rideau Room
Scarborough Town Centre
1973
169.000 sq. ft.
Coming in due course.
Simpsons Yorkdale now The Bay is one of my favorite stores. I believe its ugly really but in a charming way that reminds me of my youth in the USA and feels like department stores felt back then being their own self contained world.
ReplyDeleteThe Toronto Downtown Yonge and Queen store is still standing and is now a Bay Department Store. It still retains the historical character of Simpson's and on my most recent shopping trip a couple years back (2006), it was like going into a living museum. I had purchased two shirts and a pair of jeans and consider these items I bought museum artifacts that I treasure. If you want to see how a historic department store is like, go to the Toronto downtown Bay (the former Simpson's) next to the Eaton Centre.
ReplyDeleteDon't count on The Bay, Queen Street, as being archaic any longer. It's undergoing renovations that are making it world-class stunning: http://retail-details.blogspot.com/2011/01/hudsons-bay-company-revitalization.html
ReplyDeleteGrowing up in Toronto and it was great going to Yorkdale and shopping at both the Eaton's & Simpson's department stores.
ReplyDeleteI have two Simpson's Department store Christmas Carol song sheets. You were able to sing carols in the morning at 8:40am to 9:00am December 18 to December 24 (except on Sunday) on the Street level of the store in Toronto. I don't know what to do with them. I can't take myself to throwing them out. Why I don't know.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Halifax, NS where there were both Simpson's and Eaton's dept stores, in both Halifax and Dartmouth. I remember the Santas in each store. I miss these two fine Canadian companies.
ReplyDeleteI worked in Simpsons advertising department (main store - Queen & Yonge) from 1976 to 1984. I have very fond memories of the time I was employed there. Occasionally I search around on the internet looking for Simpsons history etc (there is not much) and I stumbled upon this site. I would be interested in finding out about some of the people I worked with in the advertising department. Anyone who is browsing this site and worked at Simpsons during the late 70's/early 80's leave a comment here... thanks
ReplyDeleteI worked in the Robert Simpson's Flowershop on Richmond Street across from the main store (at Queen & Yonge). The flowershop was located beside the parking garage. I have many wonderful memories of the Simpson's store, as I spent many of my lunch hours browsing the various departments. Although the flowershop was privately owned then ( I worked there 1980 to 1984) I feel very connectedt o the Robert Simpson Co.
ReplyDeleteI have a HOOSIER kitchen cabinet. It still has the brass plate saying it was from the Robert Simpson Co. Toronto. It probably dates back to the 1920's and still looks great. But sorry to say I have to sell it. What a shame I have loved it forever.
ReplyDeleteI have a piece of furniture that is very old and unique. It is a dresser with a swivel mirror, three drawers and on wooden castors. There is a paper stamp on the back that says,
ReplyDelete"The Robert SIMPSON Western Limited
Regina
Transfer No. 6565 ( i think, number written in pencil and is very faded)
P?? 8300 ( i think, number in pencil & very faded, may even have another number ahead of it)
???-36-Cax.23."
There are also three stamps on the back that say
"591"
Has a different shaped mirror that hangs and swivels on spindles. Stain is dark & two tones. There is a pattern carved into front. Has metal ring handles.
**Can someone tell me anything about this piece of furniture???**
How old, how much it may be worth today. It is in original condition, wheels a bit worn over years, excellent condition. There are only a couple fade spots. I bought it 20 years ago at a sale in winnipeg,mb. I have used it for as many years as I have had it.
**I now have to sell it.**
I HAVE RECENTLY AQUIRRED MY GRANDMOTHERS BROOCH THAT SHE RECEIVED WHEN WORKING AT SIMPSON'S. SHE PASSED AWAY IN 1984, AND HAD BEEN RETIRED FROM SIMPSONS FOR SOME TIME. THE BROOCH IS THE SIGNITURE "SIMPSONS" WHICH IS WRITTEN IN RHINESTONES. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS A SERVICE PIN OR RETIREMENT PIN. DID ANYONE RECEIVE ONE, WHAT WAS IT FOR, AND DO YOU KNOW AN APPROXIMATE VALUE OF THIS PIN. THANKS FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE.
ReplyDeleteI worked at Simpsons Scarborough Town Centre in the Accounts area for 8 years (payments, refunds, gift certificates etc) from the day it opened. I trained at Cedarbrae in preparation.
ReplyDeleteThe reason I am commenting today is that I just purchased a georgeous 'Simpsons' Lambs wool coat with fur collar in mint condition at a sales table in support of the United Way. It is a reminder of my past and a treasure. C.Cox
Thank you for putting this site together! I can hear the Christmas carols coming through the store speakers as I type... haha.
ReplyDeleteI loved the Simpsons logo. I can't seem to find any pictures of their old store bags which were really stylish.
As a child my parents & I visited the Toronto Downtown stores of Simpsons & Eaton's and yes 2 great Canadian Company's. Great Memories and wonderful Canadians singing Christmas Carols and happy to be gathering together and looking in the Simpsons windows at the Christmas work shop. I too have 1 song sheet from Simpsons and 2 from Eaton's. Thank you. Mrs.Muise
ReplyDeleteI worked at the Queen St. store starting in 1968 and took the management course in 1970. From there I was sent to the new Fairview store as asst. manager of dresses, coats and the Room. A year later Sherway was in the works and I was sent in the same depts. for opening. Promoted to Dept. manager of most of the main floor at Yorkdale in 1971.Then asst. buyer in sportswear in the main store. I left in 1974 to start a family. My husband Doug Syer also worked in the Main Queen St. store. Very fond memories of the "family"
ReplyDeleteJust came across your blog, and it brought back many memories! Simpson's Queen Street Store was always my favorite, especially when visiting Toytown on the 4th Floor at Christmas. This store was also used as the backdrop for the popular 80's children's TV Show "Today's Special" and several episodes were filmed there. The Yorkdale store was also pretty spectacular, with the giant spiral staircase leading to the Court Room Restaurant (which is also now gone). It's a shame Simpson's is no longer around. It was a great store. The Bay is just not the same.
ReplyDeleteHello, I have a Picture framed at Simpson's the stick on back can anyone tell me about what year did Simpson's had a frame shop and what store had them.
ReplyDeleteThank you,
chefdav2006@yahoo.com
j'ai travaille chez simpson's les galeries d'anjou a montreal j.ai debute en 1969 dans le rayon des sports``758'j'usquau changement sous le non de la baie ou j'ai continuer a travailer dans le meme edifice j'usqua ma retraite en 2008.je n'oublirai jamais toutle plaisir et le sentiment D'apartenance que nous avions pour lenon SIMPSON'S yves pellerin
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed looking over your blog. I truly miss Simpson's and Eaton's. I remember the last time I was in a Simpson's store, which was the one on St. Catherines St in Montreal, now Simmons. The Bay just doesn't seem to have the charm that Simpson's had.
ReplyDeleteI have two catalogs , one from 1917 and the other from 1924. Does anyone know what they would be worth and where I can find info on them .
ReplyDeleteI have china marked Thomas Bravaria in green and stamped in red - The Robert Simpson Company Limited Toronto. The border pattern is alternating blue and pale yellow background segments each containing various colored flowers. The center of each plate / saucer is white with a thin gold border .. any idea where I can get more info. on this china ?
ReplyDeleteI still have my Simpson's credit card.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in London where Simpsons was the big downtown store. The Christmas windows were a destination for all families and we still remember those times. Expanded several times the store had a great 6th floor Arcadian Restaurant that overlooked the market below and the city in the distance. When Eatons arrived in London in 1962 in an enclosed downtown mall, Simpsons met the challenge by enlarging and modernizing the store. Briefly a Bay store, the building now mostly houses offices.
ReplyDeleteAh, the memories! When I grew up in the late 50's early 60's Simpson's was the only department store in downtown Regina. Eaton's for some reason was located in the warehouse district to the north of downtown and was rather frumpy. Of many memories, some of my favourites were when they installed automatic elevators and got rid of the elevator operators and better yet when they installed escalators linking all six floors of the Regina store. I remember riding all the way up and then all the way down and maybe repeating it again! Also, the Christmas windows were a popular must-see. We shall never see such grand department store days like those ever again.
ReplyDeleteDo you remember the jingle: "You'll enjoy shopping at Simpsons
ReplyDeleteWith their money-back guarantee?
Satisfaction in ev'ry way
And your money refunded cheerfully.
You'll pay no more at these great stores
With so much more for you:
Service! Selection! Value! Satisfaction!
And free delivery too!
You'll enjoy shopping at Simpsons
. . . ."
and I can't recall the last line in the ad.
It would be nice if someone had a recording of this and could post it on the internet!
I had completely forgotten this and as I read the words I could hear the tune. Thanks for that memory.
ReplyDeleteSimpsons entered the Ottawa market by acquisition of Murphy-Gamble in 1972.
ReplyDeleteI have an unopened package of miniture cars with Simpsons Logo on it and the cars are called Duramites. I cannot find them anywhere else. I would like to know if they are truly collectibles.
ReplyDeleteCar set Duramite-I will give you 20.00 for the set I am in Toronto
ReplyDeleteemail coatesleon@msn.com
I have a red fox fur coat from Simpson 3 quater length, excellent conditions the buttons are hooks
ReplyDeletethese hooks buttons are no longer being made these crafts mens are no longer around the sleeve inside are leather, if you are interested I am in Toronto email- coatesleon@msn.com
I have a picture that looke like an english cottage on the back it has Robert Simpson co also a number 4-10847
ReplyDeletesize is 5" by 8" Does anyone know where I can find information on this picture. I have had it for almost 40 years
My grandmother just gave me her mink coat she bought from Simpsons Fur Gallery many years ago. She paid quite a bit for it back then and it still looks brand new. Outstanding craftsmanship.
ReplyDelete