Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Cafeteria Checkout Counter |
Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
Collection |
S.H. Kress & Company |
Catalog Number |
1989.13.1.2488 |
Description |
Print, Photographic; B&W ,interior photo taken at floor level; the picture shows an oblique view of the soda fountain counter; the back wall of the prepartion alcoves are covered with mirrors; embossed legend on lower right part of print "ROBERTSON - FRESH\TAMPA, FLRIDA"; inked notation notation on back "TAMPA FLA\S&L BAR\First Floor\8-49"; pencilled notation "8303-1" numrous sign-off initials |
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 |
Tampa, Florida |
Additional Notes |
Genesco Store Number: 75 Address: 811 Franklin Street Facade Material: Terra cotta, bronze Style: Renaissance Revival Primary Building Architect: George E. MacKay Contractors: |
Date |
8/1949 |
Photographer |
Robertson Fresh |
Studio |
Robertson Fresh |
Orig/Copy |
Original Print |
Medium |
Photographic paper |
Object Category |
8: Communication Artifact |
Donor |
Genesco Inc. |
Notes on Related Objects |
Related Units: 60 photographs, 59 plans Book Description: "A store is listed in the 1900 Tampa city directory at 1001 Franklin on a streetcar line. In 1908 the store was moved to 811 Franklin Street; it was demolished in 1929 to make way for this four-story building by staff architect George E. MacKay. The exuberant Renaissance Revival facades on Franklin Street and Florida Avenue are terracotta, rusticated at the first-floor and mazzanine levels, with ornate bronze marquees above the first floor. The second- and third-story window spandrels have cartouches surmounted by festoons, with the Kress coat of arms in the second-floor cartouches. The third-floor tympana are decorated with stars. Flood lights on top of the marquee and the cornice illuminated the elaborate facade by night. Like the Miami location, this was a Class A store, and the main sales area had fluted pilasters with acanthus leaf capitals, decorative grills, and a coffered ceiling with elaborate moldings. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places." |
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 cafeteria checkout counter |
Search Terms |
1001 Franklin Street streetcar demolished four-story George E. MacKay Renaissance Revival Florida Avenue terracotta terra cotta rusticated ornate bronze marquees spandrels cartouches festoons coat of arms tympana stars flood lights marquee cornice illuminated elaborate Class A fluted pilaster acanthus leaf capitals decorative grill coffered moldings National Register of Historic Places Store 75 Tampa Florida 811 Franklin Street S.H. Kress & Co photograph |