Bay Building (Montreal) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bay Building |
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Exterior of the Bay Building (2017)
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| Former names |
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| General information | |
| Status | Open |
| Type | Department store |
| Architectural style | Neo-Romanesque |
| Location | 585 Saint Catherine Street West, Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Coordinates | 45°30′15″N 73°34′09″W / 45.5042°N 73.5693°W |
| Current tenants | — |
| Opened | 1891 |
| Renovated |
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| Client | Henry Morgan |
| Owner | Hudson's Bay Company |
| Technical details | |
| Floor area | 60,850 m2 (655,000 sq ft) of selling space |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | John Pierce Hill |
The Bay Building in downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada, was once a very famous department store. It was originally known as the Henry Morgan Building (or Maison Morgan in French). This large building on Saint Catherine Street was designed by architect John Pierce Hill. It first opened its doors in 1891.
For many years, it was the main store for the Morgan's department store chain. Later, in 1960, the Hudson's Bay Company bought Morgan's. The store then became a major The Bay location. In 2013, it was rebranded simply as Hudson's Bay. The store closed permanently on June 1, 2025, along with all other Hudson's Bay stores in Quebec.
Contents
A Look Back at the Bay Building
Building a Landmark Store
The Bay Building was constructed between 1889 and 1891. It was designed by an American architect named John Pierce Hill. The building has a special Neo-Romanesque style. It was built using unique Old Red Sandstone imported all the way from Scotland.
This impressive building was home to Morgan's department store. Before the store was built, the area had townhouses. Some of these houses were made with stones from the old Parliament Building. That building had burned down in Montreal in 1849.
Changes Over the Years
The Bay Building saw several changes over its long history. In 1923, an eight-storey section was added. This part had a Beaux-Arts style and used red stone to match the original building. Another eight-storey section was added in 1964. This newer part had a more modern look. It mostly had windows only on the ground floor.
The Store's Final Chapter
When the Hudson's Bay Company bought Morgan's in 1960, stores in other provinces quickly changed their names. However, the Morgan's stores in Quebec kept their original name until 1972. After that, they became known as The Bay.
There were plans in 2016 to add a Saks Fifth Avenue store inside the building. This new store would have faced De Maisonneuve Boulevard. It was expected to open by 2018, but these plans were later cancelled. Sadly, due to business challenges, the Hudson's Bay Company announced the closure of all its stores in Quebec. The Montreal Hudson's Bay building officially closed its doors on June 1, 2025.
Getting There
The Bay Building was easy to reach by public transport. It had two entrances connected to the Montreal Metro system. These entrances were located on Union Avenue, leading directly to McGill station.
More to Explore
- Phillips Square, a public square located near the store
- Promenades Cathédrale, an underground shopping area connected to the store
- Hudson's Bay Queen Street, a large Hudson's Bay store in Toronto
- Hudson's Bay Vancouver Downtown, a major Hudson's Bay store in Vancouver
