At the heart of everything we do is an independent family business that aims to provide excellent service to our customers with the widest selection of high-quality Canadian-made furniture and craftsmanship you won't find anywhere else. Smitty's has been committed to providing Canadians with fine furnishings for their homes. To this day, Smitty's founding family still plays an active role in our operations. Smitty's takes pride in being a trusted Canadian furniture retailer serving areas of Southern Ontario with 3 locations in Hanover, Kitchener and Barrie.

• 1899 - 1930

  SMITTY'S STORY BEGINS

  

  In 1899 our Founder, Edward (Ed) Schmidt, was born to William and Wilhelmina Schmidt, of Bentinck Township near Hanover, Ontario. William's parents had emigrated from Germany in the 1860s attracted by the wealth of farmland and hardwood bushes in the Hanover area. Hanover, by the 1920s became known as the furniture capital of Canada, counting the Knechtel Furniture Company and Sklar-Peppler as local manufacturers. Edward, or "Smitty" as he was known, became Head Finisher at the Peppler Furniture Company in the 1920's. His real passion was in music, playing the organ in local churches and for community events.

  In the mid-1930's, Edward started Smitty's Piano Sales, refinishing and selling pianos from his family's home in Hanover. After World War II, Ed and his sons began building a retail store which would become Smitty's Shopping Centre.

  
• 1949

  EVERYTHING FOR THE HOME: FROM GROCERIES TO FURNITURE

  

  Smitty’s Shopping Centre opened in 1949 offering hardware, groceries and appliances. In 1951 an addition was built to showcase furnishings, organs and pianos. Within a few years, Smitty’s recognized the growing demand for quality, locally made furniture and expanded it's offerings beginning with bedroom suites. By 1955, the decision was made to phase out it's grocery and everyday convenience items to focus on larger, long-term household products that were increasingly popular: furniture, appliances, and televisions.

  Situated among some of Canada's most prominent furniture manufacturers, the store earned a reputation for having quality furniture, great selection and reliable service throughout the 1950s and early 1960s.

  
• 1963

  A NEW CHAPTER FOR SMITTY'S

  

  In 1963, Smitty's moved to a new 13,000 square foot showroom and warehouse in the south end of Hanover. This location featured full-room furniture displays, a modern merdchandising approach at the time that allowed customers to envision complete living spaces within their own homes. The Hanover Mall location, situated at 3rd Street and 7th Avenue remains home to Smitty's today.

  
• 1970's

  A GROWING REPUTATION

  

  In 1971, Smitty’s expanded the Hanover showroom to the 25,000 square feet of display space. Over the following years the store also expanded its warehousing capacity to keep up with its growing customer base. In 1978, a new façade and sign tower were added, introducing refreshed branding that remains recognized throughout the local community today.

  Throughout the 1970s, Smitty’s became known as a destination for quality furnishings, with customers travelling from across the region to experience the store’s exceptional service, selection and value. Extended hours and personalized service were hallmarks of the Smitty’s experience. Some longtime customers and staff may even remember the personal touches of the era, including invitations from the owners to gather at their nearby home and enjoy a glass of homemade wine.

  
• 1985 - 2008

  NEW LOCATIONS, CONTINUED SUCCESS

  

  Recognizing the growing demand for quality Canadian-made furniture throughout the Golden Horseshoe, Smitty's expanded beyond Hanover in 1985, opening a landmark 40,000 sq foot showroom on Hespeler Road in Cambridge, where it served customers until 2014.

  Continued growth led to additional locations in Barrie (1991–2008) and Pickering (1995–2004), extending Smitty's commitment to exceptional furniture and customer service across Southern Ontario.

  Today, Smitty's has proudly served the Waterloo Region for more than 40 years and is located in a 20,000-square-foot showroom at 170 Gateway Park Drive in Kitchener, Ontario.

  
• 2024

  RETURNING TO BARRIE

  

  In May 2024, Smitty's proudly returned to Barrie with the opening of a 15,000-square-foot showroom at 491 Bryne Drive, once again bringing quality Canadian-made furniture to customers throughout Barrie and communities along the Highway 400 corridor.

  Today, Smitty's is proud to be a trusted independent retailer serving Southern Ontario for more than 75 years. With showrooms in Hanover, Kitchener, and Barrie, we continue to offer exceptional furniture, personalized service, and delivery across a wide region.