Rossy
Rossy is a Canadian family-owned chain of variety stores operating primarily in the provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and eastern Ontario.[1] Founded in 1910 by Lebanese immigrant Salim Rossy as a small general store in Montreal, the business expanded significantly under his son Michael Rossy starting in 1949, growing into a regional retailer focused on affordable, family-friendly merchandise.[1] As of 2023, Rossy operates 85 stores across eastern Canada, offering products including housewares, bedding, fashion, furniture, food, and seasonal items.[1]History
Founding and early years
Rossy traces its roots to the early 20th century through the Rossy family, Lebanese immigrants who arrived in Canada around 1910. Salim Rossy, the family patriarch, established a small general store on St-Laurent Boulevard in Montreal, Quebec, which grew into one of the province's largest independent retail operations with the assistance of his ten children.[1] Michael Rossy, one of Salim's sons and born on August 24, 1921, drew inspiration from his father's emphasis on community service and customer satisfaction but chose to launch his own independent retail venture in Montreal in 1949.[1][2] During the 1950s and 1960s, Rossy maintained a strong emphasis on discount variety merchandise, positioning itself as a convenient option for budget-conscious shoppers in Montreal's urban core. The business expanded modestly within the city, with new locations often sited in close proximity to existing ones to build neighborhood loyalty; by 1963, Michael Rossy Ltd. was formally incorporated, opening its headquarters and a key store at 3912 Ontario Street East alongside a distribution center.[1][3] This period saw the chain grow to 25 stores by 1980, all concentrated in the Greater Montreal Area and catering primarily to local communities through accessible pricing and personalized service.[1] Michael Rossy, who led the company through its formative decades, passed away on March 30, 2010, at the age of 88. Notably, he was the uncle of Larry Rossy, his nephew who separately founded the unrelated discount chain Dollarama in 1992.[4][5]Expansion and key milestones
Rossy's expansion beyond its Montreal base commenced in the 1980s, marking a strategic shift toward broader geographical coverage in eastern Canada. The company's first venture outside Quebec occurred in 1981 with the acquisition of leases for four stores, including one in Cornwall, Ontario, alongside locations in Lachute, Buckingham, and Aylmer. This move established an early foothold in Ontario and facilitated further penetration into adjacent regions. By 1985, Rossy had purchased six additional stores in rural areas outside Montreal, solidifying its presence in underserved communities.[1] Throughout the 1980s, Rossy prioritized growth in rural Quebec, opening outlets from Lac St-Jean to the Gaspé Peninsula, while simultaneously entering New Brunswick. These developments emphasized community-oriented locations in towns with populations between 5,000 and 20,000 people, where the chain could serve local needs for affordable variety goods. By 1990, these efforts had increased the total store count to 28 across Quebec, New Brunswick, and Ontario. In the early 1990s, additional openings in the North Shore region of Quebec and more sites in New Brunswick further diversified the footprint, leveraging lease acquisitions to minimize capital outlay and accelerate multi-province expansion. In 1995, the company opened 16 new stores in New Brunswick, Gaspésie, and Montreal.[1][6] From 2000 to 2010, Rossy pursued steady, strategic openings that elevated its store network to 68 locations, concentrating on community-based sites in smaller towns to foster local employment and accessibility. This period underscored the role of targeted lease acquisitions in enabling cost-effective growth across provinces. The emphasis on such opportunities positioned Rossy for significant scale by the early 2010s.[1] A pivotal milestone came in 2012 when Rossy acquired and converted the remaining Bargain Giant stores—formerly part of the Hart chain—in Newfoundland and Labrador, opening 10 new outlets in locations including St. John's, Grand Falls-Windsor, Lewisporte, Bay Roberts, Marystown, Port aux Basques, and Corner Brook, along with one additional store in New Brunswick. This acquisition, which capitalized on the closure of the competing chain, boosted the total store count to 78 and marked Rossy's entry into Newfoundland and Labrador. The move exemplified Rossy's opportunistic approach to lease takeovers, enhancing its multi-province presence in Atlantic Canada.[1][7][8] In 2015, Rossy expanded into Nova Scotia by opening five stores. Further growth included the 2021 unveiling of a new store concept in Sherbrooke, Quebec; a 2022 expansion with a new location in Pembroke, Ontario; and three additional stores in 2023 (Brockville, Ontario; Matane and Chelsea, Quebec), increasing the total to 85 as of 2023.[1]Operations
Store network and locations
As of November 2025, Rossy operates a total of 82 stores across Canada, following the closure of its Brockville, Ontario location in September 2025 and a prior reduction from 85 stores in 2023.[9][1][10][11] The majority of these locations are concentrated in Quebec, with 54 stores serving urban, suburban, and rural areas throughout the province.[9] The remaining 28 stores are distributed in the Atlantic provinces and Ontario, specifically 11 in New Brunswick, 10 in Newfoundland and Labrador, 5 in Nova Scotia, and 2 in Ontario.[9] Rossy's store network is primarily focused on Eastern Canada, strategically targeting smaller communities to enhance local accessibility and provide employment opportunities within these regions.[1] This approach emphasizes serving budget-conscious customers in less densely populated areas, such as rural Quebec and Atlantic locales, while maintaining a footprint that supports community integration.[1] The company's presence in Ontario dates back to 1981, when its first store opened in Cornwall, with current operations limited to two locations: Pembroke in Eastern Ontario and Val-Caron in Northern Ontario, following the closure of the Brockville store in September 2025.[3][9][10] Expansion into the Atlantic provinces occurred between 2012 and 2015, beginning with 11 stores in Newfoundland and New Brunswick in 2012, followed by five additional outlets in Nova Scotia in 2015.[1] Rossy maintains no physical stores in Western Canada, including provinces such as Alberta and British Columbia, keeping its operations confined to the eastern part of the country.[9]| Province | Number of Stores | Percentage of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Quebec | 54 | 66% |
| New Brunswick | 11 | 13% |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 10 | 12% |
| Nova Scotia | 5 | 6% |
| Ontario | 2 | 2% |
| Total | 82 | 100% |