THE S. H. KRESS 5¢-10¢-25¢ STORE, CIRCA 1905
Source: Signature Squares of Brunswick and the Golden Isles Arts and Humanities Association
The Kress Building has taken on many architectural styles throughout its 113 years. While few pictures of the original Kress Building exist, the best guess is that the style was Romanesque Revival, featuring ornate brickwork. The footprint in which the current Kress Building sits is not the footprint of the original, either. In 1958, the S.H. Kress Company purchased the First National Bank of Brunswick, the Kress’ neighbor to the right, with plans to demolish it and expand the Kress Building. After forking over the $80,000, the S.H. Kress Company went through with their word and a new, bigger and “better” Kress Building was created. The Kress Building would now be a two-storied modern structure covered in porcelain enamel—very typical of streamline architecture in the early 60’s. The Kress retained this look for the next 60 years, but in 2019, Tommy McGraw purchased the building with a new look in mind.
Its new design, which is nearing the last leg of construction, pays homage to both of the Kress’ architectural pasts. On the left side, the porcelain tiles have been removed, exposing the original brick facade of the first Kress building. The brick has since been painted an off-white color, and several windows have been added. The right side of the building—where The Kress Building was added onto in the 1950s—is covered in cladding panels in various tones of gray. The stark contrast between the brick exterior and the paneling, the cream color and the dark grays, shows the viewer the two different sides to the building’s past, but also shows how these two clashing styles can come together to create something beautiful. Once it opens, the Kress Building will feature Brunswick Rocks, an indoor rock climbing experience, several condos, and a rooftop restaurant named 1509 Brunswick.
Images of the new construction.
The Story Behind the Kress Name
Samuel Henry Kress, the founder of the S.H. Kress Five and Dime store, was shaped by the arts, and ensured that the buildings in which his stores sat reflected beautiful architectural designs. With over 200 stores across the United States, Kress wanted the buildings to stand out architecturally and aesthetically, and create a lasting work of art on the cityscapes. They were built in various styles, but over ¼ were built in the Art Deco style. In the height of his wealth, Kress moved into a penthouse on Fifth Avenue in New York City, overlooking the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Inspired by this, Kress used his fortune to create a massive art collection and established a foundation to help bring beauty to the public during the Great Depression. Kress’ gift to the United States helped start the National Gallery of Art, and when it opened in the early 40’s, roughly 75% of all of the art was donated by Samuel Kress.