Mammoth Mills was founded by Max Coffman in Framingham in the Spring of 1956. The no-frills factory store was a lot like an early Building 19. The first store in Framingham was located off Irving St. behind Roxanna St. near what is now a Fitness and Health Center. It was one of the earliest discount department stores in the country. Others which were opening around the same time were Kings Department Stores, Ann & Hope, and Zayres. The idea of Mammoth Mills was based on the idea used in supermarkets, where cash registers were centrally located, rather than being located in each department, in order to lower overhead.
Mammoth Mills was a favorite store for closeouts, factory seconds, and bargains in general. Unlike many other discount stores, it had a grimy, dark and informal appearance.
In 1962, the store became a Mammoth Mart in honor of it's mascot, Marty the
Elephant, and moved to Pond St. in Ashland, in what is now a Market Basket
Plaza.
In 1962, there were 5 stores, by 1966 there were 20 stores, and at the height of
it's popularity in the late 1960's, there were 89 stores with locations from
Presque Isle Maine, to North Carolina. Stores were also located in Maryland, New
York, and all over New England. There were stores in Amesbury, Fairhaven, New
Bedford, West Bridgewater (location of the Home Office), Weymouth, Burlington
Vt., Southgate Plaza in Portsmouth NH, Derby Vt., Guilford Connecticut, as well
as Waterville, and Augusta Maine.
The chain was mentioned in an early Steven King novel, when a character buys a
new winter coat in a Mammoth Mart.
Mammoth Mart filed under Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in 1974, and was later acquired
by King's Department Stores in 1978.