Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Interior view of Kress sales floor |
Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
Collection |
S.H. Kress & Company |
Catalog Number |
1989.13.1.5929 |
Description |
Print, photographic; interior B&W photo taken at floor level; picture shows a view looking at an angle across the width of a store sales floor; cylindical pillars support the overhead; rows of open bulb fluorescent strips are attached directly to the acoustic tile ceiling; merchandise is displayed on open counter; platforms and supermarket-like shelves; cashier station is in left foreground; inked notation on back "EL PASO, STANTON ST 1967 #9"; stamp "MAR 9 1967\Thirman Studio\217 EL PASO ST KE 3-4410\EL PASO TEXAS" |
Context |
The S.H. Kress & Company, founded by Samuel H. Kress, opened over 300 5-10-25 cent stores in thirty states from New Jersey to Florida and across to California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii. The first Kress store opened in Memphis, Tennessee in 1896. Many of the early Kress stores started out in rented spaces. By 1909, the Company began to open its stores in new structures created by S.H. Kress & Company architects like Edward F. Sibbert and Seymour Burrell, or built for it by contractors and held under lease. The Kress stores particularly thrived during the Great Depression, as they sold inexpensive products in luxurious spaces. Kress stores ranged in architectural styles, from Neoclassical to Art Deco to Modern and International. Towards the end of the S.H. Kress & Company life, shopping centers and malls overtook free-standing commercial buildings as the preferred retail locations, and new Kress stores were placed in large multistore structure. In 1964, the S.H. Kress & Company was purchased by Genesco, Incorporated, and the company was liquidated in 1980 and 1981. Some of the buildings have been demolished, while others have been renovated and adapted. The documents, plans, photographs, and objects that were gifted to the National Building Museum by numerous donors provide a rich array of information relevant to business, social, architectural, land use, race relations, and commercial history in the United States. |
Credit Line |
Courtesy of National Building Museum, gift of Genesco, Inc. |
Place |
El Paso, Texas |
Additional Notes |
Genesco Store Number: 626 Address: 901 South Stanton Street Facade Material: Brick Style: Unknown Primary Building Architect: Unknown Contractors: |
Date |
3/9/1967 |
Photographer |
Thirman Studio |
Studio |
Thirman Studio |
Orig/Copy |
Original |
Medium |
Photographic paper |
Object Category |
8: Communication Artifact |
Donor |
Genesco Inc. |
Notes on Related Objects |
Related Units: 12 photographs Book Description: "Kress opened its second El Paso store in 1967 in this one-story brick building. The sales area (including space in the basement) were very plain, with suspended acoustical tile ceiling, exposed fluorescent lights, and linoleum floors. As in other locations with a significant number of Spanish-speaking shoppers, merchandising signs were in both English and Spanish. The store closed in 1975." |
Related Publications |
Wilkerson, Susan, and Hank Griffith. A Guide to the Building Records of S.H. Kress & Co. 5-10-25 Cent Stores at the National Building Museum. Edited by Joyce Eliiot. Washington, DC: National Building Museum Publication Office, 1993. |
Caption |
Black and white photograph of Kress sales floor |
Search Terms |
one-story brick plain acoustical tile fluorescent linoleum Spanish Store 626 El Paso Texas 901 South Stanton Street S.H. Kress & Co photograph |