STC150: McLaren’s Department Store

In December 1908, The Star Journal stated the following: “St. Catharines can claim the distinction of being quite up-to-date in regards to having one of the most modern and thoroughly equipped department stores to be found in Ontario.”

This article is referring to the McLaren and Co. Limited department store that was located on St. Paul Street at the corner of St. Paul and William Street and was made up of three buildings all connected by interior openings between the structures.

This store was established in 1848 by R. and J. Woodruff who operated it as a general store selling dry goods, groceries, liquor and wallpaper. In 1865, Robert McLaren joined the business and in 1883, the firm was taken over by Robert and Alexander McLaren and C.O. Borrowman who began operations as the McLaren Company Department Store.

Here is how the store was described in 1908:

The store is modern and up-to-date with every particular, well-lighted by electricity, has a good elevator service and employs 25 expert salespeople. The main store is devoted to fancy and staple dry goods, small wares and notions, hosiery, gloves, with a department for men’s and women’e footwear and another department – the men’s store, where can be found the best makes of ready to wear clothingand men’s furnishings. The second floor is devoted to skirts and coats for women and a full line of the finest millinery goods….

This is one of the business houses of which our citizens are proud and it has justly gained its high reputation and merits its position as the leading store of its kind in this vicinity.

The McLaren Department Store was bought out by Canadian Department Stores, a division of Eaton’s in 1920. The original buildings were completely gutted by a massive fire in 1936 and a new modern building was built on the site in 1937 which was in turn demolished in 1978 to build the One St. Paul Street complex.

This photo which ran in The Standard in a special souvenir supplement in 1907 shows the McLaren Department Store comprising of three adjacent units. (1978.19.157 p.16)