mast general store - Knoxville

Knoxville
sign-post-icon

402 S. GAY ST. KNOXVILLE, TN 37902 Plus-code-iconX38J+GH Knoxville, Tennessee

STORE HOURS

mon10AM - 7PM

tue10AM - 7PM

wed10AM - 7PM

thu10AM - 7PM

fri10AM - 9PM

sat10AM - 9PM

sun11AM - 6PM

Purveyor of Past and Present

The city of Knoxville was the first capital of Tennessee, but that was some 250 years after Hernando de Soto scoured part of the area in search of El Dorado. The plat for the town was surveyed by Charles McClung and included provisions for a town common along the waterfront, a church and graveyard, and a school, which was chartered as Blount College in 1794 (and was the beginning of the University of Tennessee).

Described as an “alternately quiet and rowdy river town,” Knoxville for a time was indeed part of the Wild West. The infamous Kid Curry, a member of Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch, was arrested and held in Knoxville’s jail. He later escaped and galloped out of town on a horse he stole from the sheriff.

Read more ...
Story behind the store logo

The Knoxville store has been a retail landmark in Downtown Knoxville since 1898. The building was constructed after the "Million Dollar Fire" in 1897. The fire started in a nearby hotel and destroyed the entire block on our side of the street. The flames spread so fast and were so intense that the Chattanooga Fire Department was called in to assist. They put their pumper on a train that left for Knoxville approaching speeds of 90+ miles per hour.

When the building was rebuilt, it 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.

 

Read more ...

The Knoxville store has been a retail landmark in Downtown Knoxville since 1898. The building was constructed after the "Million Dollar Fire" in 1897. The fire started in a nearby hotel and destroyed the entire block on our side of the street. The flames spread so fast and were so intense that the Chattanooga Fire Department was called in to assist. They put their pumper on a train that left for Knoxville approaching speeds of 90+ miles per hour.

When the building was rebuilt, it 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.

 

As an interesting aside to the history of the actual building, the Original Mast Store in Valle Crucis had a long relationship with Knoxville, which makes the store on Gay Street even more interesting. In perusing the invoices for goods purchased for the shelves from 1902 until 1920, numerous invoices had Knoxville addresses. One of the addresses is just down the street at what is now the Downtown Grill and Brewery. In the early 1900s, it was Woodruffs, a wholesale and retail house for all kinds of goods. There are also a number McClung Wholesale invoices. The McClung Warehouses are just a short drive from the store and are near the rail yard. Farm implements, barbed wire, and other items were stocked from this business.

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. After that, the building was used for storage including sewing machines and all other items.

The Mast Store opened in August 2006.

Read less ...
trip-icon

Plan your visit to Knoxville

Knoxville was a capital city of Tennessee. Now it’s a city offering sophistication along with down home style. While you’re in the area, stop in at the Visitor Center to enjoy the Blue Plate Special. Nah, it’s not something you eat, but it sure is a heapin’ helpin’ of good music, plus you’ll discover all kinds of other places you’ll want to visit, too.
Knoxville was a capital city of Tennessee. Now it’s a city offering sophistication along with down home style. While you’re in the area, stop in at the Visitor Center to enjoy the Blue Plate Special. Nah, it’s not something you eat, but it sure is a heapin’ helpin’ of good music, plus you’ll discover all kinds of other places you’ll want to visit, too. Read less ...
star-dot-icon

LOCAL FLAVOR

  • September 26, 2023 6 minute READ
    Tastes of the Season: Fall Farmers' Markets

    Tastes of the Season: Fall Farmers' Markets

    Fall is here! The bridge between summer and fall is full of delicious possibilities: the last heirloom tomatoes and sweet corn linger, pears and sweet potatoes start to arrive, and more apples than you can name can all be found at your local farmers’ market. ...read more

    tags-icon Local Flavor | Gardening | At Home

    location-icon Asheville | Annex - Valle Crucis | Boone | Columbia | Greenville | Hendersonville | Knoxville | Roanoke | Original - Valle Crucis | Waynesville | Winston-Salem

  • July 10, 2023 19 minute READ
    Time to Hit the Trails

    Time to Hit the Trails

    Nature has the power to heal, challenge, and connect. It can transport us to a place that is far away from our stress-filled world. It can help us see our world from a different perspective, and it embraces us in a manner that technology cannot. It connects us in ways both physical and mental to the earth and to each other. Where is the prescription for this magical elixir? It’s as close as your favorite local trail.  ...read more

    tags-icon Adventure | Inspiration | Local Flavor

    location-icon Columbia | Greenville | Knoxville | Roanoke

  • October 25, 2021 3 minute READ
    Halloween Happenings

    Halloween Happenings

    They say that Halloween is the spookiest time of the year. Legend warns it’s when the veil between our world and the afterworld is thin and spirits can easily pass from one side to another. We don’t know about that, but we do know it’s one of the “funnest” times of the year. Check out these family-friendly events in our local communities. ...read more

    tags-icon Local Flavor | Travel

    location-icon All

blogs

FROM OUR BLOG

  • September 26, 2023 6 minute READ
    Tastes of the Season: Fall Farmers' Markets

    Tastes of the Season: Fall Farmers' Markets

    Fall is here! The bridge between summer and fall is full of delicious possibilities: the last heirloom tomatoes and sweet corn linger, pears and sweet potatoes start to arrive, and more apples than you can name can all be found at your local farmers’ market. ...read more

    tags Local Flavor | Gardening | At Home

    locations Asheville | Annex - Valle Crucis | Boone | Columbia | Greenville | Hendersonville | Knoxville | Roanoke | Original - Valle Crucis | Waynesville | Winston-Salem

  • July 10, 2023 19 minute READ
    Time to Hit the Trails

    Time to Hit the Trails

    Nature has the power to heal, challenge, and connect. It can transport us to a place that is far away from our stress-filled world. It can help us see our world from a different perspective, and it embraces us in a manner that technology cannot. It connects us in ways both physical and mental to the earth and to each other. Where is the prescription for this magical elixir? It’s as close as your favorite local trail.  ...read more

    tags Adventure | Inspiration | Local Flavor

    locations Columbia | Greenville | Knoxville | Roanoke

  • April 29, 2022 4 minute READ
    Everyone Should Hug a Tree for History, Health, and Happiness

    Everyone Should Hug a Tree for History, Health, and Happiness

    Today is Arbor Day, and we’re celebrating the beauty and symbolism trees lend to our world. Take a look at this tree-themed trivia from across our region. We hope the facts will inspire you to hug a tree or, especially, plant one in honor of all that trees do for us and our environment!  ...read more

    tags Inspiration | Gardening

    locations All

area-events

AREA EVENTS

Mar 23, 2024

Event:
Nourish Knoxville Winter Market
TIME:
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Place:
Market Square
community-partners

OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS

join catalog mailing list tell me more
>