Freimans
Encyclopedia
A.J. Freiman Limited, or Freimans, was a landmark department store on Rideau Street
in Ottawa
, Canada
, founded in 1918 by Archibald J. Freiman
.
Archibald Jacob Freiman
was born in Lithuania in 1880, and emigrated to Hamilton, Ontario. Freiman's rose to become the most successful department store in Ottawa because of its prominent location at Mosgrove and Rideau Streets, its aggressive marketing and its low prices. The company also operated stores in Westgate
and St. Laurent Shopping Centre
s, as well as discount stores, called Freimart, in Shoppers City West and Shoppers City East.
Then owned by A.J. Freiman's son, Lawrence (who wrote a book about the store), the company was acquired by the Hudson's Bay Company
in 1972. The former Freimans store still operates as an outlet of the Bay
, and an adjoining arcade
linking Rideau Street to the Byward Market
is named the Freiman Mall
in honour of the longtime Ottawa retailer. In addition, a lane beside the nearby National Arts Centre has been named Lawrence Freiman Lane.
Freiman's was also the centre of an important battle against anti-semitism. In the 1930s Ottawa police officer Jean Tissot, affiliated with Adrian Arcand's movement, attempted to rally Christian Canadians to boycott Jewish businesses. Freiman's, as the most prominent Jewish owned business in Ottawa was at the centre of his attacks. As a result Freiman filed a libel suit against Tissot, and Tissot was found guilt of criminal libel. The staunch condemnations of Tissot in the mainstream press and the utter failure of his movement to find support among the people led to a sound defeat for anti-semitism in Ottawa.
Rideau Street
Rideau Street is a major street in downtown Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and one of Ottawa's oldest and most famous streets running from Wellington Street in the west to Montreal Road in the east where it connects to the Vanier district...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, founded in 1918 by Archibald J. Freiman
Archibald Jacob Freiman
Archibald Jacob “Archie” Freiman was a Lithuanian-Canadian Ottawa Jewish businessman and Zionist. According to Bernard Figler, Freiman was the most influential Canadian Jew of his generation...
.
Archibald Jacob Freiman
Archibald Jacob Freiman
Archibald Jacob “Archie” Freiman was a Lithuanian-Canadian Ottawa Jewish businessman and Zionist. According to Bernard Figler, Freiman was the most influential Canadian Jew of his generation...
was born in Lithuania in 1880, and emigrated to Hamilton, Ontario. Freiman's rose to become the most successful department store in Ottawa because of its prominent location at Mosgrove and Rideau Streets, its aggressive marketing and its low prices. The company also operated stores in Westgate
Westgate Shopping Centre (Ottawa)
Westgate Shopping Centre is a small scale shopping centre in West Ottawa bordering Carling Avenue, Merivale Road, and Highway 417, owned by RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust....
and St. Laurent Shopping Centre
St. Laurent Shopping Centre
St. Laurent Shopping Centre is a major shopping centre located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada owned and operated by Morguard REIT. The shopping mall is located just north of Highway 417 at the corner of St. Laurent Boulevard and Coventry Road. It opened its doors in 1967.St...
s, as well as discount stores, called Freimart, in Shoppers City West and Shoppers City East.
Then owned by A.J. Freiman's son, Lawrence (who wrote a book about the store), the company was acquired by the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
in 1972. The former Freimans store still operates as an outlet of the Bay
The Bay
The Bay is a chain of 91 department stores that operate across parts of Canada. It is the main brand of Hudson's Bay Company , North America's oldest company. It has its headquarters in the Simpson Tower in Toronto. In French, the chain is known as la Baie, short for "Compagnie de la Baie d'Hudson"...
, and an adjoining arcade
Arcade (architecture)
An arcade is a succession of arches, each counterthrusting the next, supported by columns or piers or a covered walk enclosed by a line of such arches on one or both sides. In warmer or wet climates, exterior arcades provide shelter for pedestrians....
linking Rideau Street to the Byward Market
Byward Market
ByWard Market is a district in Lower Town located east of the government & business district, surrounding the market buildings and open-air market on George, York, ByWard and William Streets.The district is bordered on the west by Sussex Drive, on the...
is named the Freiman Mall
Freiman Mall
Freiman Mall is an enclosed arcade between Rideau and George Streets in Downtown Ottawa, Canada, east of Sussex Drive and west of William Street...
in honour of the longtime Ottawa retailer. In addition, a lane beside the nearby National Arts Centre has been named Lawrence Freiman Lane.
Freiman's was also the centre of an important battle against anti-semitism. In the 1930s Ottawa police officer Jean Tissot, affiliated with Adrian Arcand's movement, attempted to rally Christian Canadians to boycott Jewish businesses. Freiman's, as the most prominent Jewish owned business in Ottawa was at the centre of his attacks. As a result Freiman filed a libel suit against Tissot, and Tissot was found guilt of criminal libel. The staunch condemnations of Tissot in the mainstream press and the utter failure of his movement to find support among the people led to a sound defeat for anti-semitism in Ottawa.
See also
- List of Canadian department stores
- Ogilvy'sOgilvy'sCharles Ogilvy Limited, or "Ogilvy's", was a department store in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, founded in 1887. For much of the 20th century, Ogilvy's was one of Ottawa's higher-end department stores....
- Murphy-GambleMurphy-GambleMurphy-Gamble Limited was a long-time department store in the City of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.The store was located at 118 Sparks Street in a 1909 building designed by C.P. Meredith, and for years used the slogan "Ottawa's Smart Store"...
- Caplan'sCaplan'sCaplan's was a department store in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.Caplan's began as a small dry goods shop in 1897, and operated over time at various locations throughout Ottawa. In 1916, the store moved to Rideau Street, where it grew into a department store and went on to become a retail landmark in...