The Bon Marché (Lowell)
| Company type | Department store |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1878 |
| Founder | Frederic Mitchell, Charles Mitchell |
| Defunct | 1976-01-10 |
| Headquarters | Lowell, Massachusetts , United States |
Area served | New England |
| Products | Dry goods, shoes, general merchandise |
The Bon Marché was a prominent department store located in downtown Lowell, Massachusetts, with operations spanning from 1878 until 1976.
In 1878, Frederic Mitchell established a dry goods shop called "This is Mitchell's," while his brother Charles ran a nearby shoe store on Merrimack Street. The two businesses combined in 1887, adopting the name The Bon Marché.
The structure housing the store developed in stages: the small right portion dates back to around 1874, the central section was built in 1887 specifically for the Bon Marché Dry Goods store, and a symmetrical addition on the left side was constructed in 1927.
Primarily serving workers employed in Lowell's textile mills, the store offered merchandise both indoors and along the street. Situated within the heart of the city's commercial district, Bon Marché marketed itself as the largest department store in New England. A distinctive feature of its Rock Bottom Basement Store was a glacial erratic integrated into its architectural design.
With the decline of Lowell's industrial sector, Bon Marché experienced diminishing success and ultimately closed its doors on January 10, 1976. The building was later purchased by the Jordan Marsh chain, which operated there until its closure in 1996. Presently, the premises accommodate the UMass Lowell bookstore, offices for Lowell Public Schools, and Community Teamwork administrative spaces.