Verdun menswear store turns 100

M.H. Grover menswear store on Wellington Street in Verdun is celebrating 100 years of business.

Four generations of the Grover family have made history.

Max Hirsch Grover opened his shop in 1925 and it’s been in the family ever since. His grandson Kenny Grover remembers grandpa’s advice.

“He always said a working class neighborhood is always the best place to open up a store because people have to work, need clothes,” he said.

M.H.’s son Ronnie worked in the store for decades. He and his son Kenny have been part of the Verdun community for 40 years.

Stan Holdaway, a longtime client, says he values how kind the family has been.

“Ronnie was very nice. His father was very nice to us. Like my mother, he knew her by name and he would do the alterations right away. So that was great for us, you know, she didn’t have to do it. And so it was fantastic!” said Holdaway.

Kenny Grover says this is a unique place to shop.

“We adapted by being a little bit different. By being different, we only went into men’s oversize and tall clothing and from there we’ve taken off and there’s only two stores like this in Montréal and there’s only five or so in Canada,” he explained.

While M.H. Grover is marking one century in business, the Verdun Borough is celebrating 150 years, so the shop is filled with archival photos of the community.

Victor Bedard is a longtime client and says the store is a cornerstone of the community.

“We’re in our 70s and we’ve always lived in Verdun. Always, always lived in Verdun. It’s changed!” he said.

One thing that hasn’t changed is this friendly corner shop.

Kenny’s son Jacob works there now, and he’s the fourth generation Grover offering personal service to clients seven days a week.

“I wake up in the morning with a smile on my face because I love what I do every day. So hopefully that doesn’t change,” said Jacob, the great grandson of the founder.

Kenny says he’s so happy his son is carrying on the family tradition.

“He decided to come into the business, and I’m ecstatic that it’s hopefully going to go on for another 50 or 100 years,” he said.

Photos on the walls show scenes from over a century ago, from black and white to a store full of colour. MH Grover has been there the whole time.