email: roadarch@outlook.com

Kresge's Five & Dime Stores

(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)

Sebastian Spering Kresge opened his first five and dime store in Detroit in 1899. At that point, he was partnering with J.G. McCrory. He also opened other stores with his brother. In 1912, the S.S. Kresge Company was established with 85 stores. By 1938, there were 742 stores. In 1977, the company changed its name to the Kmart Corporation. For more, see this website.

former Kresge's
Washington, DC
This former Kresge's has been home to the Jaleo restaurant since 1993. The building was constructed in 1918. Kresge's was in business here until at least 1982. For more, see this website. [map]

former Kresge's
Champaign, IL
This former Kresge's was built in 1927. The building has housed Guido's Bar & Grill since 2004. For more, see this website. [map]

former Kresge's
Springfield, IL
This former Kresge's was built in 1930. In the mid-1970s, the store became a Kmart which was Kresge's discount brand. [map]

former Kresge's
Quincy, IL
This former Kresge's appears to be from the 1920s or 1930s. [map]

former Kresge's
East St. Louis, IL
This former Kresge's was built around 1920. [map]

Indiana:
New Albany
Richmond

former Kresge's
Topeka, KS
This former Kresge's was built in 1926. There was another Kresge's store nearby before that. This building housed Wolfe's Camera for decades until it closed in 2021. The building will be renovated for the ASTRA Innovation Center. For more see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

Kresge Building
Waltham, MA
This Kresge Building is probably from the 1920s or earlier. [map]

former Kresge's
Baltimore, MD
This former Kresge's five-and-dime department store was built in 1938. It closed in the late 1970s and housed a couple drug stores. The building was occupied by a Lot Stores outlet when these photos were taken in 2004. It now houses an Urban Outlet store. [map]

former Kresge's
Augusta, ME
This former Kresge's was built in 1932. It became Jupiter, a latter-day Kresge's store, around 1970. It housed Stacy's Hallmark from 1978-2015. In 2005, Stacy's created a new sign that looked more like the original Kresge's. In 2007, the storefront was restored (third photo) while incorporating Hallmark's colors. The copper features and pink mortar between the gold bricks were preserved. The building was vacant in 2016. The building now houses the Cushnoc Brewing Co. [map]

former Kresge's
Bay City, MI
This former Kresge's looks like it was built in the mid-1930s. It was definitely built by the 1940s. The building now houses a bank and other businesses. The exterior features red vitrolite glass tiles. [map]

former Kresge's
Jackson, MI
This Kresge's was built in the early 1900s. The facade was apparently updated in the Art Deco style. The building housed Swan Creek Candle when these photos were taken in 2011. It now houses the Lean Rocket Lab, a co-working space. [map]

former Kresge's
Ann Arbor, MI		 former Kresge's
Detroit, MI
This former Kresge's in Ann Arbor was built in 1940. The building housed Michigan Book & Supply when this photo was taken in 2011. That store closed in 2012. By 2013, the building was housing a Walgreens. For more, see this website. There was an earlier Kresge's in Ann Arbor as well. [map]

This former Kresge's in Detroit was built in 1936. The building was vacant when this photo was taken in 2011. It was still vacant in 2022. The Kresge's label scar on the red vitrolite on the side of the building was still legible. That panel was gone by 2013. [map]

More Michigan:
Detroit
Detroit
Detroit
Grand Rapids [vintage; gone]
Hamtramck

Kresge Building
Schenectady, NY
I believe this Kresge Building was built in the 1930s. [map]

More New York:
Albany, [map]

Pennsylvania:
Chester [map]
Pittsburgh
Reading [map]

former Kresge's
Providence, RI
This Kresge's Building was built in the 1930s. [map]

former Kresge's
Manitowoc, WI		 former Kresge's
Kenosha, WI
This former Kresge's in Manitowoc was built around 1928. The building was remodeled around 2007 to house "Manitowoc Main Street" a combination coffee shop and retail store. [map]

This former Kresge's in Kenosha was built in 1924. This location closed around 1960. The building now houses Mike Bjorn's Fine Clothing. [map]

More Wisconsin:
Milwaukee [vintage]

West Virginia:
Wheeling [gone]

Canada:
Toronto, ON
Toronto, ON [map]
Montreal, QC [gone]

Five & Dime Stores
Main Page