After sitting empty for 25 years, one of Detroit’s biggest eyesores is finally coming down.

Starting today (Monday), crews began tearing down the old Mammoth Building at Greenfield and Grand River on the city’s west side.

If you’ve driven by it, you know, it’s been an absolute mess for decades. And yeah, the demolition was way overdue. But still… there’s something that sucks about seeing a piece of Detroit’s history get wiped out.

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The Mammoth Building’s been standing since 1949, and even though it’s been nothing but blight for years, it’s hard not to feel a little bummed watching it disappear for good. I’m sure plenty of people in the neighborhood are thrilled to see it go but still.

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Over the years, it’s racked up blight violations, become a magnet for trouble, and just plain dragged the neighborhood down.

According to Fox 2 Detroit, the city spent years in court trying to figure out who even owned the place. New owners finally bought it at a county auction last October, and after months of asbestos removal, demolition is underway. Detroit will cover the cost for now, but the current owners are on the hook to pay the city back.

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Last year, we shared some photos of the abandoned Mammoth Building while it was still standing. The photos are proof of just how far gone the place really was. Check out the pics below.

Abandoned 1949 Mammoth Department Store in Detroit

Built in 1949, the Mammoth building started as the Federal Department Store, a vital part of the community. Over the years, different owners like Kingsway Department Stores and Mammoth Department Store shaped its history.

The doors officially closed in 2001 and it's been empty ever since.

Gallery Credit: Detroit Unseen

Abandoned Kettering High School in Detroit (2012-2024)

Kettering High School used to sit on Van Dyke Road in Detroit before it was demolished in 2024. The photos below are from 2012, just after the school closed, and 2024, showing the abandoned building in its final days.

Gallery Credit: Detroit Unseen

Before Demolition: Abandoned Wyndham Gardens Hotel in Sterling Heights

The Wyndham Gardens Hotel in Sterling Heights was built in 1960, closed in 2020, and was demolished in 2022. Here’s a look at what it used to be.

Gallery Credit: Detroit unseen

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