Montgomery Ward added a "shadow anchor" to the periphery of the mall in August 1972. At the time, the 95,800 square foot store was the chain's largest New England location.
Drawing from Montgomery Ward & Company 

For several years, the primary retail rival of NASHUA MALL was ROYAL RIDGE MALL, a twenty-store mini mall on the southeast side of the city. Originally anchored by Marshalls, a Purity Supermarket and Pharmacity Super Drugette, ROYAL RIDGE MALL opened for business in May 1974. 20 years later, it was redeveloped as ROYAL RIDGE CENTER, a six-store power plaza.
Graphic from Royal Ridge Mall Merchants Association