The first Chess King branch opened in the Dedham Mall in Dedham, Massachusetts (just outside Boston), in March 1968. In 1970, The New York Times described the store's concept as "teen-male apparel dress shops whose stores are highly identifiable, with bold coloring and designs aimed at appealing to the 12-to-20 male market." Five additional locations were opened in 1968, and 21 more in 1969.
The first Chess King outlet was established at the Dedham Mall in Dedham, Massachusetts (near Boston) in March 1968. The store's concept, as noted by The New York Times in 1970, involved teen-male apparel dress shops with bold designs and colors targeting a male audience between 12 and 20 years old. This concept led to the opening of five more locations in 1968 and 21 more in 1969.