by Curtis D. Tucker
Posted: 12/23/14 | Updated: 01/31/16
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The old Kress building was demolished so that a hotel could be constructed next to the Enid Event Center. S. H. Kress & Co. was a chain of "five and dime" retail department stores from 1896 to 1981. Throughout the first half of the twentieth century Kress stores were a familiar sight on "Main Street" in hundreds of cities and towns. The stores were famous for their building design. Many included curved glass windows and art deco architecture.
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In 1964 Genesco, Inc. acquired ownership of Kress. The company abandoned its center-city stores and moved to the shopping malls. Genesco began liquidating Kress and closing down the Kress stores in 1980.
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The Enid Kress Building was built in 1908 and was very famous for it's creaky wooden floor. It became a Dollar General store from 1972 to 1979. After closing in 1979 the first demolition of the building was proposed. The Kress building and surrounding buildings were saved and eventually became a combined center called the Cherokee Conference Center.
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The Cherokee Conference Center was replaced in 2013 with a combination of the Enid Event Center and Convention Hall. The demolition photos below show the conference center being demolished.
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See historic and modern photo of the Kress building before demolition at this link.
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