THE HEART OF THE CITY
STANLEY MILLS & CO.
11-17 King Street East
CURRENT STATUS (1999)
BUILDING INFORMATION
Date Built: 1903
Original Owner: Stanley, Edwin & Robert
Mills
Original Use: Stanley Mills & Co.
department stores (1903-1924)
Subsequent Uses: #11: Herbert S. Mills China
Shop (1924-1983); #13-15: various retail stores (Northway
Ladies’ Wear, Peoples Jewellers etc.)
Previous Building on Site: Three-storey
commercial building occupied by the Mills family business since 1893 and destroyed by fire
in 1903
ARCHITECTURE
Size: #11: frontage: 18.19 ft.; height:
five-storeys
#13-15: frontage: 34.68 ft.; height: five-storeys
Design and Style: Early Twentieth Century
Transitional
Architect, Builder: Charles Mills, eldest
Mills brother (architect)
Construction Materials: façade (#11): brick
masonry; architectural terra cotta; sheet-copper (cornice)
façade (#15-17): metal screen added to original facade
Architectural Integrity: #11: good (original
upper façade largely intact)
#15-17: poor (original upper façade entirely altered)
Architectural Features: #11: originally one of the identical bays featuring decorative brick and
terra cotta piers; two tripartite windows ("Chicago Style") and an arcade of
three round-arched windows on the upper storey; sheet-copper cornice with a variety of
pressed-metal ornamentation parapet storey originally crowned by finials
The Mills brothers,
Robert, Edwin and Stanley, started Stanley Mills & Co. in 1888. The Company started as
a hardware store, located on the corner of John and Jackson Streets. By 1896, the store
added dry goods, clothing, groceries, and notions, among other things, making it the
second department store in Canada. Consumers were thrilled by the convenience and the
store was always busy.
The Mills family had a long history in Canada, and in Hamilton. They came to Canada long before Confederation to trade furs with the Natives. In Hamilton, Hess and Caroline Streets are both named after members of the Mills family. But the department store and china shops are what they have become best known for.
The department store was especially known for its china shop, which
was run by Robert Mills, a china connoisseur. In 1893, the Stanley Mills & Co.
department store moved to 11–15 King Street East. When Mills moved to this location,
16,000 people passed its doors every ten hours. But they also had the challenge of
competing with other department stores on King Street. Mills Co. department store was a
leader in mail order shopping and providing catalogues. They were also one of the first
companies to sell stock to employees. The store was always successful, despite
competition. Many people appreciated the friendly service they received from this
family-run business.
The original King Street building was destroyed by fire in 1903. Over $36,000 worth of damage was done to the building. A new facility opened later that same year, which was designed by Charles Mills. He also designed the Bank of Hamilton head office and G.W. Robinson store. The building was wider and taller than its immediate neighbours. It was a prominent feature in the Gore streetscape. The business continued to grow and expand. Goods were imported to the Mills store from the United States, Britain, and other parts of Europe.
In 1920, the brothers became interested in real estate and
sold the Mills department store. Robert retained a fondness for china. He opened a
store at 11 King Street with his son Herbert. The Herbert S. Mills China Shop opened in
1924 and eventually gained a continent-wide reputation. 
Mills was famous for being one of the first china shops in
North America to stock fine bone china. The store was also well known for its clientele.
In the 1930’s, Franklin D.Roosevelt’s mother came to Mills to buy some china for
the White House. Mills opened that night, with all staff on duty, so that she could
browse. On December 6, 1941, Mills received a telegraphed order from the Japanese embassy
in Washington. They demanded that Mills ship them china before the next day, or not at
all. After Pearl Harbour was bombed, the FBI raided the embassy and determined that the
ambassador must have known about the bombing because he could not wait for the Mills
order. 
After almost a hundred years in business, the Mills china store closed in 1983. Two Burlington businessmen decided to put their money into Mills. Al and Doug Taylor backed the business financially, allowing it to reopen. This also marked the first time in close to a hundred years that the china store was not truly a Mills family business. Unfortunately, china was going out of style and business was suddenly not as good as it used to be. Even with the financial support of the Burlington men, Mills still could not survive. They closed for good in 1985, shortly after the Right House closed.
