The namesake of its founder, Mark Matthias Cohn, the chain was founded in 1874 in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

The downtown store was moved again in 1940 to the 75,000-SF building between Capitol and Sixth on Main that still carries the company name on its front.

Cohn's grandson, Dan Phillips, started in the business when he was very young and held nearly every position.

Phillips became the one most responsible for building MM Cohn into a respected regional chain, particularly in its competition with in-town rival Dillard's.

By the time it was sold, there were 11, because the company had closed the downtown Little Rock store.