Among the many reasons for the "foreign invasion" of Winnipeg's North End was the presence of Jewish stores. The store shown here was located on North Main Street. The proprietors of stores like this one were usually natives of Eastern European countries and could speak, or at least understand, the immigrant's language. Moreover, they would sell commodities on credit as was the custom in the small towns and villages of Eastern Europe. In short, the Jewish merchant knew the likes and dislikes of the "foreigner" and was able to accommodate him in a way Anglo-Saxon merchants did not understand.
