Leon's was founded by Ablan Leon, a Lebanese immigrant who built the foundation of the prominent retail company.
Ablan Leon's entrepreneurial journey began with humble beginnings. He first worked as a factory worker before transitioning to a door-to-door salesman. Through his diligent efforts and accumulated profits from his sales work, he successfully opened his first retail establishment in 1909.
The original store, known as the A. Leon Company, was situated at 244 King Street. Initially, it operated as a dry goods outlet, offering a variety of general merchandise. Over time, the business adapted to market demands and strategically converted its focus to furniture sales, eventually growing into the well-recognized furniture and appliance retailer that is Leon's today.
