# Freimans

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A.J. Freiman Limited Exterior of the former Freimans store (2006) Trade name Freimans Type Subsidiary Industry Retail Genre Department stores Founded 1918; 108 years ago (1918) in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Founder Archibald Jacob Freiman Defunct 1973; 53 years ago (1973) Fate Acquisition by Hudson's Bay Company Successor The Bay Headquarters 73 Rideau Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Area served National Capital Region Parent Hudson's Bay Company (1972–1973)

**A.J. Freiman Limited** ([doing business as](/source/Trade_name) **Freimans**[a]) was a Canadian [department store](/source/Department_store) founded in 1918 by [Archibald Jacob Freiman](/source/Archibald_Jacob_Freiman).

## History

Freimans department store on Rideau Street, 1938

[Archibald Jacob Freiman](/source/Archibald_Jacob_Freiman) was born in [Lithuania](/source/Lithuania) in 1880, and emigrated to [Hamilton, Ontario](/source/Hamilton%2C_Ontario). Freimans rose to become the most successful department store in Ottawa because of its prominent location at Mosgrove and [Rideau Streets](/source/Rideau_Street), its aggressive marketing and its low prices. The company also operated stores in [Westgate](/source/Westgate_Shopping_Centre_(Ottawa)) and [St. Laurent Shopping Centres](/source/St._Laurent_Centre), as well as discount stores called **Freimart** in [Shoppers City West](/source/Shoppers_City_West) and Shoppers City East.[1]

Then owned by A.J. Freiman's son, Lawrence (who wrote a book about the store), [Hudson's Bay Company](/source/Hudson's_Bay_Company) acquired the company in 1972 and rebranded it to [The Bay](/source/Hudson's_Bay_(department_store)) in 1973. The former Freimans store continued to operate as a retail store of The Bay until the chain's closure in 2025, and an adjoining [arcade](/source/Arcade_(architecture)) linking Rideau Street to the [Byward Market](/source/Byward_Market) is named the [Freiman Mall](/source/Freiman_Mall) in honour of the longtime Ottawa retailer. In addition, the laneway around the north side of the nearby [National Arts Centre](/source/National_Arts_Centre) which provides access to the [box office](/source/Box_office) has been named Lawrence Freiman Lane.

Freimans was also the centre of an important battle against [antisemitism](/source/Antisemitism). In the 1930s, Ottawa police officer Jean Tissot, affiliated with [Adrien Arcand](/source/Adrien_Arcand)'s [fascist movement](/source/National_Unity_Party_of_Canada), attempted to rally Christian Canadians to boycott Jewish businesses. Freimans, as the most prominent Jewish owned business in Ottawa was at the centre of his attacks. As a result, Freiman filed suit against Tissot, who was subsequently found guilty 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 antisemitism in Ottawa.[2]

## See also

- [List of Canadian department stores](/source/List_of_department_stores#Canada)

- [Ogilvy's](/source/Ogilvy's)

- [Murphy-Gamble](/source/Murphy-Gamble)

- [Caplan's](/source/Caplan's)

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [/ˈfriːmənz/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English) [*FREE-mənz*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Pronunciation_respelling_key)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Ward, Bruce (June 30, 2007). ["Ottawa 1967"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen-ottawa-1967/137976438/). *[Ottawa Citizen](/source/Ottawa_Citizen)*. Ottawa, Ontario. p. E2. Retrieved January 3, 2024 – via newspapers.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Powell, James (October 9, 2018). ["Remember This? A.J. Freiman versus J. Tissot"](https://ottawa.citynews.ca/remember-this/remember-this-aj-freiman-versus-j-tissot-1077720). *[CityNews](/source/CityNews)*. Retrieved July 20, 2022.

- [Charlesworth, Hector Willoughby](/source/Hector_Charlesworth), ed. (1919). [*A Cyclopædia of Canadian biography*](https://archive.org/details/cyclopdiaofcan00charuoft/page/132). Toronto: Hunter-Rose Company. p. 132. [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [1042901332](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/1042901332). Retrieved August 17, 2020.

- Lo, Laurelle (2001). St Onge, Nicole (ed.). [*The Path From Peddling: Jewish Economic Activity in Ottawa Before 1939*](http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1ctxqpz). Ottawa: Ottawa University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-2-7603-1570-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-2-7603-1570-9). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [j.ctt1ctxqpz](https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1ctxqpz). {{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: |journal= ignored ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#periodical_ignored))

## External links

- [A.J. Freiman Limited fonds(R3487)](http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redirect?app=fonandcol&id=105677&lang=eng) at [Library and Archives Canada](/source/Library_and_Archives_Canada)

- [Freiman family fonds (R6882))](http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redirect?app=fonandcol&id=97986&lang=eng) at [Library and Archives Canada](/source/Library_and_Archives_Canada)

v t e Hudson's Bay Company Holdings Hudson's Bay (1881–2025) I. G. Baker Company (1891) Morgan's (1960–1973) Freimans (1972–1973) Shop-Rite (1972–1982) Simpsons (1978–1991) Zellers (1978–2025) Fields (1978–2012) Towers (1990–1991) Woodward's (1993) Kmart Canada (1998) Designer Depot (2004–2008) Gilt (2015–2018) Galeria Kaufhof (2015–2018) Home Outfitters (1998–2019) Lord & Taylor (2012–2019) Saks Fifth Avenue (2013–2024) Saks Off 5th (2013–2024) History Hudson's Bay Trading Company North West Company Trading posts Pemmican War York Factory Express Districts Rupert's Land Rupert's Land Act 1868 Deed of Surrender North-Western Territory Columbia District New Caledonia Ships Aklavik Anson Northup Baychimo Beaver Cadboro Columbia Fort Chesterfield Grahame Hazelton Labouchere Maud Mount Royal Nascopie Nonsuch Otter Pelican Princess Louise Strathcona Vancouver Equipment Capote Mackinaw jacket Point blanket York boat Columbia boat Branding Coat of arms Flag Stripes Related topics Company archive NRDC Equity Partners Rewards program Category

[45°25′34″N 75°41′33″W / 45.426148°N 75.692587°W / 45.426148; -75.692587](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Freimans&params=45.426148_N_75.692587_W_region:CA-ON_type:landmark)

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