In 1870, he purchased two lots on the corner of Main Street and Bannatyne Avenue, the location of the Ashdown retail store for over one hundred years.

This spectacular stunt raised the interest of eastern Canadian and American companies to the commercial opportunities in western Canada.

Not to be outdone, the T. Eaton Co. of Toronto opened its first store in Winnipeg, in July 1905, comprising 5.5 acres (22,000 m2) of floor space and employing 800 people.

Ashdown travelled to Montreal, New York and London in an unsuccessful attempt to sell bonds in order to pay off large loans from the banks.

James H. Ashdown died at his home in Winnipeg on 5 April 1924,[1] but the firm remained a family business until it was sold in 1971.