Demolition of the enormous department store building on Grand River, aptly named the Mammoth, began early Monday, Aug. 11, as city officials and residents gathered in Detroit’s west side to celebrate the milestone.

The building was opened in 1949 as a Federal Department Store. It opened as the Mammoth Department Store in 1990, but closed 10 years later. It has remained vacant since.

Alice Matthews, 56, and Colin Matthews, 59, have lived next to the Mammoth building for the last 14 years. Colin Matthews, who grew up in the area, told the crowd that he remembered shopping there during his childhood when the building was the “crown jewel” of the west side.

Now, he called the building an “eyesore,” and said he is looking forward to having a “safer environment” once it’s gone.

“It wasn't cl

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