Metropolitan Stores
Metropolitan Stores was a Canadian variety and discount department-store chain that expanded nationally before its remaining locations were acquired by SAAN in 1997.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Metropolitan Stores was a Canadian variety and discount department-store chain whose roots went back to a five-and-dime business opened by F. H. Brewster in St. Thomas, Ontario, in 1908. The business initially traded as F.H. Brewster & Company and developed through a period when low-price variety stores occupied an important place in Canadian retail. Its assortment combined household necessities, clothing, toys, stationery, seasonal merchandise, small hardware, food, beauty products, furniture, electronics and other everyday goods. The Metropolitan name emerged in the 1920s. In 1920 the company was incorporated as Metropolitan Stores Ltd. after the Canadian Smallwares Company and several Montreal variety stores were brought together under the influence of Metropolitan 5 to 50¢ Stores of the United States. By the end of the 1920s, the chain had grown substantially, operating stores in Canada and the United States. Although the Metropolitan name later disappeared from the American market, it remained a Canadian retail banner. During the 1930s through the 1950s, Metropolitan expanded at a measured pace. It operated in many of Canada's principal cities and became a familiar downtown, strip-mall and shopping-centre retailer. The chain's stores generally occupied approximately 20,000 to 40,000 square feet and were designed to provide a broad selection of inexpensive merchandise rather than specialize in one category. Many locations also included Cafe Met lunch counters serving simple hot and cold meals, drinks and sandwiches. A major ownership transition occurred in 1961. After more than four decades under American control, the Canadian operating assets were sold to Winnipeg investment firm James Richardson & Sons. The business was transferred to a newly formed Canadian corporation, Metropolitan Stores of Canada Ltd. Later that year, General Distributors Ltd., the Cohen family-owned Winnipeg investment and real-estate company later known as Gendis Inc., acquired a major interest. The executive function was moved from London, Ontario, to Quebec, and the company pursued national expansion through shopping-centre development and related retail banners. By 1963, Metropolitan was described as Canada's fourth-largest variety-store organization, with 111 stores. Its broader retail network subsequently included Metropolitan stores as well as the Greenberg and SAAN banners. At its high point, the group operated approximately 180 stores across all Canadian provinces and territories. Greenberg served smaller communities with a compact discount format focused heavily on clothing, while SAAN operated discount stores that had originally built its business partly around surplus merchandise. Metropolitan's own stores remained broad-based variety and junior-department outlets. The company reported strong growth in the 1960s and 1970s, reaching annual sales of $137 million by the mid-1970s according to historical reference material. The chain faced increasing pressure in the 1980s and 1990s. Some Metropolitan and Greenberg stores were closed or converted to SAAN locations as competition intensified and economic conditions weakened. The arrival of Walmart Canada in 1994, followed by Walmart's acquisition of Woolco stores, increased pressure on Canadian discount retailers. Gendis attempted to respond by converting selected Metropolitan and Greenberg locations into a larger department-store concept called Met Mart. The format did not produce a durable turnaround and was abandoned after a short period. Financial difficulties culminated in 1997. Gendis's MMG Management Group of Montreal entered bankruptcy proceedings in February, and the remaining Metropolitan, Met Mart and Greenberg outlets were placed in bankruptcy proceedings later that month. SAAN acquired 89 of the 169 remaining outlets for approximately $31 million and converted them to SAAN Stores and Red Apple banners. This ended Metropolitan Stores as an operating retail chain. The Metropolitan name therefore survives primarily as a historical example of Canadian variety retail and as part of the lineage of several later discount-store banners.
History
Metropolitan Stores originated in 1908 when F. H. Brewster opened a five-and-dime store under the name F.H. Brewster & Company at 483–485 Talbot Street in St. Thomas, Ontario. Additional stores followed in Ontario communities including London, Ingersoll and Chatham. The early business experienced several serious building fires, including losses involving London and Brantford locations, but continued to expand. The company was incorporated as Metropolitan Stores Ltd. in 1920. Its formation followed the combination of the Canadian Smallwares Company chain with several Montreal variety stores under the influence of the American Metropolitan 5 to 50¢ Stores organization. By the end of 1928, the wider chain operated 130 stores in Canada and the United States, including 31 Canadian stores in four provinces. In 1930 it operated 52 stores and held assets reported at $10 million. Later that year its Canadian subsidiary was sold to F. & W. Grand-Silver Stores, which entered receivership three years later. H. L. Green Company then acquired the businesses. Metropolitan subsequently remained a Canadian banner even as the name disappeared from the United States. From the 1930s through 1960, Metropolitan expanded conservatively to approximately 85 stores in major Canadian cities. The chain's stores sold a wide range of low- and moderately priced goods, making it a general-purpose destination rather than a specialist retailer. Locations were commonly freestanding buildings or situated in strip and enclosed shopping centres. In-store Cafe Met counters added a food-service element and helped make some stores local community destinations. In 1961, H. L. Green Company agreed to sell the operating assets of its wholly owned Canadian Metropolitan subsidiary to James Richardson & Sons of Winnipeg. The transaction involved 86 stores and a warehouse and returned the business to Canadian ownership. Richardson transferred the operations to a newly created corporation named Metropolitan Stores of Canada Ltd. In May of that year, General Distributors Ltd. announced that it and its associates had acquired a major interest. General Distributors, later renamed Gendis Inc., became the principal corporate force behind the chain's expansion. Metropolitan's former London executive office was closed, and administrative and distribution functions were reorganized around Quebec and Winnipeg. The 1960s and 1970s were the chain's strongest expansion period. By 1963, Metropolitan had 111 stores and ranked among Canada's largest variety-store organizations. Gendis developed a group of related banners, including Greenberg and SAAN. Greenberg was a smaller-town discount format with a strong clothing component, while SAAN was a discount chain whose early merchandise supply included surplus Canadian Armed Forces goods. Together with Metropolitan, these operations reached about 180 locations across Canada at their peak. The group continued opening Metropolitan units during the 1970s, and historical material reports annual sales of $137 million by the middle of that decade. The retail environment became more difficult in the 1980s. Some stores were closed or converted to SAAN outlets, reflecting economic weakness and heightened competition, especially in eastern Canada. The competitive challenge intensified after Walmart entered Canada in 1994 and acquired 122 Woolco stores. Gendis responded by converting selected Metropolitan and Greenberg locations into Met Mart stores, a larger department-store concept intended to compete with Walmart's scale and pricing. The conversion program was short-lived and failed to reverse the decline. By 1996 and early 1997, declining revenues had created severe problems within Gendis's retail organization. MMG Management Group of Montreal was voluntarily assigned into bankruptcy on February 11, 1997. In February, the remaining 169 Metropolitan, Met Mart and Greenberg stores were also placed into bankruptcy proceedings. SAAN acquired 89 outlets for approximately $31 million and converted them to SAAN Stores and Red Apple locations. The transaction brought the Metropolitan banner's retail history to an end. Its former store network and related formats nevertheless influenced the later Canadian discount-store landscape through the successor banners.
- 1997
SAAN acquired selected stores after bankruptcy
[1]SAAN bought 89 of the remaining 169 Metropolitan, Met Mart and Greenberg outlets and rebranded them.
- 1994
Walmart's Canadian expansion increased competitive pressure
[1]Walmart entered Canada and subsequently acquired Woolco stores, intensifying the challenge for domestic discount and variety chains.
- 1976
The group reached approximately 180 stores
[1]Metropolitan and its related Greenberg and SAAN operations together operated approximately 180 Canadian stores.
- 1963
Metropolitan became Canada's fourth-largest variety chain
[1]The business was reported to operate 111 stores across the country.
- 1961
The Canadian operation returned to Canadian ownership
[1]James Richardson & Sons purchased the Canadian operating assets, which were transferred to Metropolitan Stores of Canada Ltd.; General Distributors soon acquired a major interest.
- 1928
The wider chain reached 130 stores
[1]Metropolitan-related operations were reported to have 130 stores across Canada and the United States, including 31 Canadian locations.
- 1920
Metropolitan Stores Ltd. was incorporated
[1]The Canadian business adopted the Metropolitan Stores name after the consolidation of several variety-store operations.
- 1908
F. H. Brewster opened the first store
[1]F. H. Brewster opened a five-and-dime store in St. Thomas, Ontario, establishing the business that would eventually become Metropolitan Stores.
Products and positioning
A broad-assortment, value-oriented Canadian variety and discount retailer serving everyday household, apparel, seasonal and family needs. Its advertising emphasized thrift, convenience and the idea that customers could obtain more value from each dollar.
Variety and discount retail · 1920
Metropolitan variety department stores
The core Metropolitan format offered a broad mix of everyday merchandise, including clothing, footwear, household goods, hardware, toys, stationery, seasonal products, food, beauty items, furniture and small electronics. Stores were commonly located in downtown premises, strip malls or shopping centres and generally occupied roughly 20,000 to 40,000 square feet.
In-store food service
Cafe Met
Cafe Met was a lunch-counter-style restaurant found in many Metropolitan stores. Its straightforward menu included hot and cold drinks, hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, grilled cheese, hot turkey and turkey club sandwiches. Depending on the building, the cafe could be located at the rear of the store, in a basement or on an upper sales floor.
Department-store format
Met Mart
Met Mart was a larger department-store format created by Gendis in the mid-1990s by converting selected Metropolitan and Greenberg locations. It was intended to compete with Walmart and other large discount retailers, but the conversion strategy was brief and unsuccessful.
Small-town discount retail
Greenberg
Greenberg was a related smaller-format chain operated by Gendis, primarily in smaller communities. Its assortment emphasized clothing but also included toys, small appliances, candy, restaurant service and other general merchandise. Many Greenberg locations were closed or converted after the 1997 bankruptcy.
Discount retail · 1947
SAAN
SAAN was a related Canadian discount chain that began in Winnipeg in 1947. Its early merchandise supply included surplus Canadian Armed Forces goods. SAAN acquired and rebranded many former Metropolitan and Greenberg locations in 1997.
Brand decisions
1997
Sale of selected stores to SAANM&ABackground
Gendis's retail operations entered bankruptcy proceedings amid declining sales and increased competition.
Action taken
SAAN acquired 89 of the remaining Metropolitan, Met Mart and Greenberg outlets and changed their banners to SAAN Stores and Red Apple.
Aftermath
The Metropolitan banner ceased operating as a retail chain.
Acquisition price. Approximately $31 million (1997)
1990
Met Mart conversion strategyStrategyBackground
Walmart and other large discount retailers were changing the competitive structure of Canadian retail.
Action taken
Gendis converted selected Metropolitan and Greenberg stores into the larger Met Mart department-store format.
Aftermath
The program was short-lived and did not halt the retail group's decline.
1961
Return of the Canadian operation to domestic ownershipM&ABackground
The Canadian subsidiary had been controlled by United States interests for approximately four decades.
Action taken
James Richardson & Sons purchased the Canadian operating assets and transferred them to a newly formed Canadian corporation. General Distributors then acquired a major interest.
Aftermath
The transaction supported a new phase of national expansion and reorganized the business around Canadian ownership and management.
Purchase price. Approximately $19 million cash (1961)
Recent events
- 1997
Metropolitan and related stores entered bankruptcy proceedings[1]
Bankruptcy
Declining sales and mounting competitive pressure contributed to bankruptcy proceedings involving Gendis's retail operations and the remaining Metropolitan, Met Mart and Greenberg locations.
- 1997
SAAN acquired 89 remaining outlets[1]
M&A · Bankruptcy
SAAN acquired 89 of the 169 remaining Metropolitan, Met Mart and Greenberg outlets and rebranded them under SAAN Stores and Red Apple.
- 1990
Gendis introduced the Met Mart conversion format[1]
Product generation
Selected Metropolitan and Greenberg locations were converted to the larger Met Mart department-store format in an attempt to compete more directly with major discount retailers.
- 1963
Metropolitan reached national scale[1]
Other
The chain was reported to operate 111 stores and rank fourth among Canadian variety-store organizations.
- 1961
James Richardson & Sons acquired Metropolitan's Canadian operating assets[1]
M&A · Leadership change
The sale returned Metropolitan's Canadian operating business to Canadian ownership and led to its transfer into the newly formed Metropolitan Stores of Canada Ltd.
- 1961
General Distributors acquired a major interest in Metropolitan Stores[1]
M&A
General Distributors, a Winnipeg investment and real-estate company associated with the Cohen family, announced a major investment and plans for further national expansion.
Sources1 sources
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