Simons grows outside Quebec

QUEBEC CITY — Quebec’s Simons, which began as a dry goods store in the 1840s, has announced plans to open five new stores over the next three years, including four outside Quebec. The retailer currently has nine locations, but did not have a presence in any other province until it opened in the West Edmonton Mall in 2012. The new stores will range in size from 80,000 to 113,000 square feet, to be located in Ottawa and Gatineau; Mississauga, Ont.; Vancouver; as well as the chain’s second Alberta site in Calgary. The announcements comes as other Canadian retailers, like Reitmans and Jacob, have closed divisions or shut down entirely.