Former SH Kress Dime Store Building in Anniston AL


Kress Building, Anniston Alabama
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Date added: January 19, 2025
East elevation (1984)

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Constructed around 1917 the Kress building received a new Art Deco facade around 1930. The Kress store occupied the building until 1980 when it closed. Since that time other retail stores, including a furniture store and more recently a department store, have used the building.

The Kress Building is an excellent example of the Art Deco style, expressed in the highly stylized ornamentation, particularly the fleur-de-lis capitals, and the polychromatic geometric band above the second-floor windows. This Art Deco facade was the only one of its kind in Anniston, though it was typical of the Kress chain of stores at that time.

The two-story-plus-mezzanine brick commercial building is located on the west side of Noble Street between Eleventh and Twelfth Streets in the central business district. The distinguishing feature of the structure is the Art Deco glazed tile facade which dates from about 1930. Each of the six bays consists of a pair of double-hung windows, two-over-two sashing on the mezzanine level, and four-over-four at the second stage. Between each pair of windows is a raised pilaster embellished at the top with a stylized terra cotta fleur-de-lis motif. Above the mezzanine windows a red band runs across the facade with the applied lettering in brass,

"S. H. Kress & Co. 5-10-15 Cent Store," and a polychromatic geometric terra cotta design is found above the second-stage windows. Large raised letters spell "Kress" centered in the simple, straight-lined parapet.

The only recent major interior alteration took place in the late 1950s when a new stairway to the basement was built and the lower floor opened for commercial use.

Kress Building, Anniston Alabama East elevation (1984)
East elevation (1984)

Kress Building, Anniston Alabama Facade detail (1984)
Facade detail (1984)

Kress Building, Anniston Alabama Interior view of storage area showing Kress Logo (1984)
Interior view of storage area showing Kress Logo (1984)

Kress Building, Anniston Alabama Close up of Kress Logo in storage area (1984)
Close up of Kress Logo in storage area (1984)