Mast General Store

The Knoxville store has been a retail landmark in Downtown Knoxville since 1898. The building was constructed after the "Million Dollar Fire" in 1897 and was home to the McNulty Grocery and Dry Goods Co. In 1901 M. M. Newcomer's Department Store made the move from across the street into the building at 402 South Gay Street. It was one of Knoxville's bigger stores. In 1932, the Knox Dry Goods Store replaced M. M. Newcomers. Through the years it provided all kinds of goods and services including a beauty shop on the second floor. Knox Dry Goods modernized its name in 1954 becoming known as The Knox. It was a mainstay in the downtown area until 1977 when The Boston Store moved into the building. In the late 1970s, many retailers had left downtown for the suburbs. The store was vacant until the White Grocery Store moved in in 1982 and operated until 1988. The Mast Store opened in August 2006. Today, this downtown emporium has been restored to the height of its Victorian period. Fixtures from the past mingle with new display units to showcase Mast's unique blend of traditional clothing for men and women from such names as Woolrich, Flyshacker and Pendleton. You'll also find a complete outfitters department featuring hiking and camping gear, boots, and casual footwear from The North Face, Patagonia, Columbia, Royal Robbins, Asolo, Clarks, Chaco, Sofft, and more. Mast's signature items can be found in the Mercantile Department, which is just brimming with cast iron cookware, pottery, baskets and other crafts, old fashioned toys, and a candy section featuring over 500 old-fashioned hard-to-find candies.