Stores
Last updated February 05, 2010

Target stores circa 1980

It was common knowledge that much of the Towers look was "inspired" by a major retailer in the United States - Target.

The red and white colour scheme is a good example. Even the overhead signing - nothing fancy, just a piece of wood, painted red with large white lettering - was the same.

Merchandising of department counters and checkouts matched closely Target's approach. Target's control of where and how merchandise would be placed was through the use of Planograms.  If you worked for Towers you KNEW what a planogram was!


Map of all Towers and Bonimart store locations.  Thanks to Kevin. K. for this contribution.
Click to view map

 

Towers/Bonimart Store Locations (by store name)
Store Name Store Number Location Shopping Centre Store Name Opened  
Aldershot 23 124 Plains Road
Burlington, Ontario
Aldershot Plaza Towers 1962-63  
Barrie 55 450 Bayfield Street
Barrie, Ontario
Bayfield Mall Towers 1980s Click for current Google Earth view of store siteClick for current Google Earth view of store siteClick for current Google Earth view of store site
Baseline 54 1980 Baseline Rd.
Ottawa, Ontario
  Towers late 1970s  
Bedford 61

1658 Bedford Hwy.
Bedford, Nova Scotia

Bedford Place Mall Towers 1978  
Belleville 25 540 Dundas St. West
Belleville, Ontario
  Towers -  
Bridgewater 74

441 Ld Have St.
Bridgewater, Nova Scotia

Bridgewater Mall Towers -  
Bracebridge 67 505 Hwy. 118 W
Bracebridge, Ontario
Bracebridge Shopping Centre Towers -  
Brantford 40 410 Fairview Dr.
Brantford, Ontario
Brantford Centre Towers -  
Brampton 46 400 Queen St. West
Brampton, Ontario
This store later closed and moved to Hwy 10 Towers - Click for current Google Earth view of store site
Cole Harbour 64

900 Cole Harbour Rd.
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

Colby Village Shopping Centre Towers -

Click for photos of the store

Chateauguay 44 15 Boul. St. Jean Baptiste
Montreal, Québec
  Bonimart -  
Charlottetown 71

670 University Ave.
Charlottetown, PEI

Charlottetown Mall Towers 1974  
Collingwood 63 55 Mountain Road
Collingwood, Ontario
Blue Mountain Mall Towers October 21, 1980 Click for current Google Earth view of store site
Cyrville 42 1205 Cyrville Road
Ottawa, Ontario
  Towers - 1962
Dartmouth

64

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia   Towers

-

 
Decairie

73

6855 Clanranald Ave.
Montreal, Québec
Decairie Square Bonimart

Late 1970s

 
Dixie 26 Dixie and Dundas
Mississauga, Ontario
Dixie Plaza Towers July 1961 Click for current Google Earth view of store site
Dufferin & Dupont 47 1245 Dupont St.
Toronto, Ontario
Galleria Mall Towers 1972 Click for current Google Earth view of store site
Finch & Warden 59 2900 Warden Ave.
Toronto, Ontario
Bridlewood Mall Towers 1975  
Goreway 60 7205 Goreway Dr.
Malton, Ontario
Westwood Mall Towers - Click for current Google Earth view of store site
Greenfield Park 28 5000 Boul. Taschereau
Montreal, Québec
Mall Carnaval Bonimart October 5, 1961  
Hazeldean 62 300 Eagleson Rd.
Kanata, Ontario
Hazeldean Mall Towers 1979 Click for current Google Earth view of store site
High Park 22 2290 Dundas St. West,
Toronto, Ontario
High Park Towers June 14, 1962 Click for current Google Earth view of store site
Jane and Finch 38 3929 Jane St.
Toronto, Ontario
Jane Finch Mall Towers - Click for current Google Earth view of store site
Kipling/Queensway 53 1255 The Queensway
Toronto, Ontario
  Towers mid 1970s  
Kitchener 65 700 Strasburg Road
Kitchener, Ontario
Forest Glen Mall Towers -  
Laval 70 Laval
Montreal, Québec
Centre Commercial Deux Mall Bonimart late 1970s  
London 32 1441 Wellington Road
London, Ontario
Treasure Island Plaza Towers 1961-62  
Metropolitan

24

7600 rue Viau
Montreal, Québec
Place Viau Bonimart

October 6, 1961

 
New Minas 45

9121 Commercial St.
New Minas, Nova Scotia

  Towers 1970  
Niagara Falls 39 6777 Morrison St.
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls Plaza Towers -  
Newmarket 66 Newmarket, Ontario   Towers -  
North Bay 58 1899 Algonquin Ave.
North Bay, Ontario
  Towers -  
Oakville 41 Trafalgar Rd. & Leighland,
Oakville, Ontario
  Towers Fall 1969 Click for current Google Earth view of store site
Owen Sound 37 911 10th St W,
Owen Sound, Ontario
Sunset Strip Towers May 1967  
Peterborough 35 950 Lansdowne St. W.,
Peterborough, Ontario
  Towers Late 1960s Click for current Google Earth view of store site
Place Desormeaux

50

2877 Chemin de Chambly
Montreal, Québec
Place Desormeaux Bonimart

May 19, 1971

 
Place Duvernay 51 3100 Boul. de la Concorde E
Laval, Québec
Place Duvernay Bonimart mid 1970s  
Place St. Jean 49 400 Boul. Seminaire
Montreal, Québec
Place St-Jean Bonimart -  
Rexdale 43 2267 Islington Ave.
Toronto, Ontario
Rexdale Mall Towers - Click for current Google Earth view of store site
Riverdale 30 447 Carlaw Ave.
Toronto, Ontario
  Towers - Click for current Google Earth view of store site
Saint John

52

Prince Edward St.
Saint John, NB
  Towers

1973

 
Scarborough 21 2650 Lawrence Ave. E.
Toronto, Ontario
  Towers November 17, 1960 Click for current Google Earth view of store site
Sorel

 

68 450 Boul. Poliquin
Québec, Québec
  Bonimart -  
Ste. Foy 29 2700 Boul. Lauier
Québec City, Québec
  Bonimart October 12, 1961  
Ste. Roche 41 Ste. Roche
Québec City, Québec
  Bonimart -  
Stoney Creek 31 640 Queenston Rd.
Hamilton, Ontario
  Towers -  
Stratford 57 1067 Ontario St.,
Stratford, Ontario
  Towers -  
Sudbury 48 100 Elm St.
Sudbury, Ontario
City Centre Mall Towers 1971  
St. Catherines 33 366 Bunting Rd.
St. Catherines, Ontario
  Towers

September 14, 1961

 
Summerside 72

100 Water St.
Summerside, PEI

Waterfront Mall Towers 1974  
Westside 34 2400 Eglinton Ave. W.
Toronto, Ontario
Westside Mall Towers

-

Click for current Google Earth view of store site
Waterloo 27 70 Bridgeport Road East
Waterloo, Ontario
First City Plaza Towers

1962-1963

 
Welland 36 1000 East Main St.
Welland, Ontario
  Towers

-

 
Woodstock 56 645 Dundas St.
Woodstock, Ontario
  Towers

-

 



Towers/Bonimart Store Locations (by district, as of April 1990)
[Ed note: Thanks to Bill Douglas for providing this list of stores by district.]

District 1
Dale Stoke, District Manager
25 Belleville
35 Peterborough
42 Cyrville
54 Baseline
62 Hazeldean
   
District 2
Al Waechter, District Manager
27 Waterloo
32 London
40 Brantford
56 Woodstock
57 Stratford
65 Kitchener
   
District 3
Bob Hogg, District Manager
23 Aldershot
26 Dixie
31 Stoney Creek
33 St. Catherine
36 Welland
39 Niagara Falls
   
District 4
Roger Delledone, District Manager
34 Westside
38 Jane & Finch
43 Rexdale
46 Brampton
53 Kipling & Queensway
60 Goreway
   
District 5
George Campbell, District Manager
21 Scarborough
22 High Park
30 Riverdale
47 Dufferin & Dupont
59 Finch & Warden
66 Newmarket
   
District 6
Al Hammond, District Manager
37 Owen Sound
48 Sudbury
55 Barrie
58 North Bay
63 Collingwood
67 Bracebridge
   
District 7
Jacques Valence, District Manager
24 Metropolitan
29 Ste. Foy
41 Ste. Roche
44 Chateauguay
51 Place Duvernay
   
District 8
Mike Sanfacon, District Manager
28 Greenfield Park
49 Place St. Jean
50 Place Desormeaux
68 Sorel
70 Laval
   
District 9
Art Peck, District Manager
45 New Minas
52 Saint John
61 Bedford
64 Dartmouth
71 Charlottetown
72 Summerside





Towers is Hiring!


August 12, 1961


Cashiers, part-time for furniture department



Click for larger view

October 4, 1965

Experienced Cashiers - Allied Towers Merchants Ltd.

August 11, 1966

Sales Help - Experienced - For Camera & Record Dept.

October 11, 1972

Personnel Supervisor - Head Office - Orfus Rd.

June 19, 1973

Sales Clerk for the Television & Sound Shop - Galleria

June 20, 1974

Restaurant/Cafeteria Manager - Barrie

November 8, 1974

Rexdale - Camera and Record Department - Department Manager - Sales Clerks

January 13, 1975

Short Order Cook - Night Shift Supervisor

October 7, 1975

Towers Head Office - Do you want to supplement your Income? Wehave interesting part time positions available

July 8, 1976

Jane and Finch Mall - Cosmetician

June 2, 1983

Towers Department Stores Metro Toronto Requires Manager Trainees

April 17, 1984

Systems Analysts

March 1, 1988

Human Resources Manager

January 4, 1989

Retail Department Managers -  Are you getting the RESPECT you deserve in your Career?

January 14, 1989

Retail Dept. Managers - Dept Manager Trainees

April 1, 1989

Retail Assistant Managers - Are you getting the respect you deserve?

October 7, 1989

Retail Department Managers - Are you getting the RESPECT you deserve in your career?


Going. Going. Gone. How much for a store?

Chain Date $Millions/Store Store Size (sq.ft.)
Simpsons 1979 14.0 150,000
Future Shop 2001 7.0 25,000
Towers/Bonimart 1990 3.6 67,000
Miracle Food Mart 1990 3.4 25,000
Woolco 1994 2.9 120,000
Dominion 1984 1.5 25,000
Zellers 1980 1.2 65,000
K-Mart 1997 1.2 85,000
BiWay 2001 0.4 5,000


Other defunct Canadian retailers

  • Andrew's
  • The Arcade - St. John's, Nfld.-based discount variety store chain (1938-1995).
  • Ayre and Sons - Newfoundland-based department store chain. Once operated as many as 80 stores coast-to-coast (1859-1991).
  • Bargain Harold's - A 135 location Discount store chain based in Ontario with locations in Ontario, Manitoba and the Maritimes went Bankrupt in 1992.
  • Biway - Discount store based in Ontario, defunct 2001.
  • The Bon Marché - Independent discount variety store in St. John's, Nfld. (1919-1971).
  • Bowring - St. John's, Nfld. department store. Also national home decor store chain.
  • Bretton's - High end department store 1985-1996.
  • Consumers Distributing - Catalogue store 1957-1996.
  • Corvette
  • Creaghan's - New Brunswick department store chain.
  • Creed's - founded 1916, defunct 1991, high-end family-owned retailer.
  • Dupuis Frères - Quebec-based chain, symbol of French-Canadian commerce and pride.
  • Eaton's - Went Bankrupt in 1999, and acquired by Sears Canada. Defunct in 2002.
  • Freimans - Longtime Ottawa retailer, acquired by The Bay in 1972.
  • Fortin - In downtown Trois-Rivières, Quebec; bought by Dupuis Frères.
  • Greenberg - Merged with SAAN.
  • Horizon - Discount department store operated by Eaton's, 1967-1978.
  • Kmart Canada - Discount department store, usually in the suburbs, created by S.S. Kresge - sold Canadian stores to Hudson's Bay Company in 1997.
  • S.S. Kresge - Smaller, downtown locations.
  • Laroque's Department Store - 169-177 Rideau Street, Ottawa, Ontario. Catering to the Francophone community of
  • Lowertown - Closed circa 1970-1971 - Now The Mercury Court Building housing offices and shops.
  • Lasalle - Discount department store.
  • Letendre - On Saint Catherine Street East, Montreal; bought by CDS, then Eaton. The store closed after Eaton's expansion in the west. The building remains at the corner of Montcalm (NE).
  • The London, New York and Paris - St. John's, Nfld. department store chain (1916-1991).
  • Marks and Spencer - Closed Canadian stores in 1999.
  • Metropolitan Stores Ltd. - Sister chain of SAAN, stores later converted to the SAAN name.
  • Miracle Mart - Discount department store operated by Steinberg's, defunct 1996. Some stores acquired by Dominion Stores.
  • Morgan's - Merged with Hudson's Bay Company.
  • Murphy-Gamble - Ottawa store, acquired by Simpson's.
  • Ogilvy's (Charles Ogilvy Limited) - Ottawa-area chain, merged with Robinson's in 1980s, defunct 1990s.
  • La Compagnie Paquet - 6 stores in Quebec City area. Closed June 1981. Some stores acquired by The Bay.
  • Peoples - (1914-1995) discount store closed in the same time as its parent company Wise Stores.
  • Plazamart - On St-Hubert Street in Montreal.
  • Pryce Jones - Calgary branch of United Kingdom mail-order company, operated 1911 to 1916.
  • Pollack - In Quebec City area and Trois-Rivières - bankrupted in 1978.
  • The Right House - Higher-end department stores, last store closed in the 90's.
  • Robinson's - Southern Ontario chain, merged with Charles Ogilvy Limited in 1980s, acquired by Hudson's Bay Company in 1990s.
  • Royal Stores - Newfoundland department store chain (1895-1977).
  • Sayvette - Discount department store, defunct 1970s.
  • Sentry - Ontario chain of retail department stores. Chain closed in mid-1980s.
  • Shop-Rite - Catalogue store operated by Hudson's Bay Company in 1970s-1992.
  • Simpson's - Acquired by the Hudson's Bay Company.
  • Simpsons-Sears Limited - Renamed Sears Canada Inc.
  • Spencer's - Western Canada, bought by Eaton's.
  • Le Syndicat de Québec - Acquired by La Compagnie Paquet in 1974.
  • Target - Newfoundland discount variety store chain (1981-1995) - never related to American company.
  • Towers Department Stores / BoniMart - Sold out to Zellers in 1990.
  • Walker Department Store - Galt, Ontario.
  • Wise Stores - Similar to Hart Stores.
  • Wood Brothers - Halifax department store chain.
  • Woodward's - Western Canada, defunct 1993. most stores converted to Zellers and The Bay.
  • Woodwynn - Junior department store owned by Woodward's, defunct 1993.
  • Woolco - Discount department store, usually in the suburbs, acquired by Wal-Mart in 1994.
  • Woolworth - Closed Canadian stores in 1994, though some became Woolco (such as the Whitehorse outlet).
  • Young Canada - Toys and children's clothes; around since at least the early 1960s.

Miracle Mart - Discount department store operated by Steinberg's, defunct 1996. Some stores acquired by Dominion Stores.

aton's - Went Bankrupt in 1999, and acquired by Sears Canada. Defunct in 2002.

Woolco - Discount department store, usually in the suburbs, acquired by Wal-Mart in 1994.

Woolworth - Closed Canadian stores in 1994, though some became Woolco (such as the Whitehorse outlet).

Biway - Discount store based in Ontario, defunct 2001.

Simpson's - Acquired by the Hudson's Bay Company.

 
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