Morgan's facts for kids
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Henry Morgan Building, the flagship store in Downtown Montreal (1890s)
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| Industry | Retail |
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| Fate | Acquired by Hudson's Bay Company |
| Successor | The Bay |
| Founded | 1845 in Montreal, Quebec |
| Founder | Henry Morgan |
| Defunct | June 19, 1972 |
| Headquarters | 585 Saint Catherine Street West,
Montreal, Quebec
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Canada
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Number of locations
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11 (at peak) |
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Area served
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| Owner | Hudson's Bay Company (1960–1972) |
Henry Morgan & Company, often called Morgan's, was a well-known Canadian department store chain. It was started by Henry Morgan in 1845. The very first store opened in Montreal, Quebec. Over the years, Morgan's grew to have 11 stores across Quebec and Ontario. In 1960, a larger company called Hudson's Bay Company bought Morgan's. The stores in Ontario soon changed their name to The Bay. The remaining Morgan's stores in Quebec were renamed La Baie in 1972. The main Morgan's store in Downtown Montreal is still a major store for Hudson's Bay Company today.
Contents
The Story of Morgan's Department Store
How Morgan's Began
The first Morgan's store opened in Montreal in 1845. It was started by Scottish immigrant Henry Morgan. The store was first located on Notre Dame Street. It moved a few times as it grew. In 1891, a big new main store was built. This special store was located on Saint Catherine Street West. This move helped make Saint Catherine Street a very popular shopping area in Montreal.
Growing Across Cities
The second Morgan's store opened in 1950 in the Snowdon area of Montreal. More stores then opened on the island of Montreal. Morgan's also opened stores in several cities in Ontario. Henry Morgan and his partner, David Smith, first owned the store together. Later, Henry's brother, James Morgan, bought Smith's share. The Morgan family kept owning and running the business for over 100 years.
Becoming Part of The Bay
Hudson's Bay Company bought Morgan's in 1960. By 1964, all the Morgan's stores in Ontario changed their name. They became part of the new "The Bay" chain. The Morgan's logo was replaced with a new one. This new logo looked similar to The Bay's logo. The Morgan's stores in Quebec kept their name a bit longer. But on June 19, 1972, they also changed their name to La Baie.
A Special Bowl from 1945
In 1945, Morgan's Department Store ordered a special bowl. It was made by Wedgwood to celebrate the store's 100th birthday. The bowl showed pictures of Montreal in 1845 and 1945. It also had symbols like maple leaves and shamrocks. These celebrated the city's French and English history. The inside of the bowl had Montreal's coat of arms. It also had inscriptions in English and French. These mentioned when Montreal was discovered and founded. The bottom of the bowl showed Montreal's population in 1845 and 1945.
Morgan's Stores Today
The original Morgan's main store in downtown Montreal is still open. It now operates as The Bay. Other former Morgan's locations in Montreal are also still open as The Bay stores. These include the ones in Dorval and Rockland. However, the store at Boulevard Shopping Centre closed in 2018. The Queen Mary Road store closed in the 1970s. Outside of Quebec, only The Bay at Eglinton Square Shopping Centre remains. Many other former Morgan's stores in Ontario have closed over the years.
Store Locations
Here are some of the places where Morgan's stores were located:
- Montreal
- St. Catherine St.
- Queen Mary Road
- Le Boulevard Shopping Centre
- Dorval Gardens
- Centre Rockland
- Toronto
- Lawrence Plaza
- Cloverdale Mall
- Eglinton Square
- Bloor/Yonge
- Hamilton
- Greater Hamilton Shopping Centre
- Ottawa
- Sparks Street
Gallery
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Previous logo in 1960
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Morgan's in 1939, getting ready for a royal visit
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Morgan's during Christmastime, 1944
