The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-07-18
TIE KRESS STORE,
Informal Opening Reception Was At
tended by Hundreds OF People.

The Kress Store, the newest in the
great chain Of Five, Ten and Twenty
five Cent stores, operated by s. III.
kress & Co., that cover the United
States, was opened Friday with an
informal reception during the after
noon and evening. Being the newest
of the Kress stores, it is the most
modern and the best equipped store
of it's kind in the United States, for
all of the experience and resources
of the great Kress organization were
called into service in planning and
equipping the Sumter store, to the end
that it might be a model of convent
ence, with economy of space and eff
cheney of service the key notes of the
entire establishment and each of its
departments. The store is located on
the corner of South Main and Cald-
well streets. opposite the ,postoffice-
one of the best business stands in the
city This lot was purchased by s. H.
Kress & Co. ten years ago. they hav-
ing planned that far ahead to estab-
lish store in Sumter, and it was
held until they were ready to build,
despite the fact that the lot could
have been sold a dozen times at three
to four times the price paid for it, The
building is of handsome design and
solid construction and is an ornament
to the business section Of the town
During the hours the store was open
hundreds of visitors passed through
and inspected the building and all
were pleased with what they saw and
delighted that Sumter has one of the
most up-to-date establishments of it's
kind in the country, the largest of
the large cities not excepted The Rex
orchestra. under the direction of Prof.
|Girard, furnished music throue ehout
the afternoon and evening.
Mr.. L. E. Merriman, Of the New
York executive and buying Offices, has
been in Sumter for some time ar
ranging for the opening and, for the
past few days, he and his assistants
have been forced to work 1S hours a
day in order to have everything in
readiness for the opening, and their
efforts were crowned with complete
success. The managers of several
nearby stores were present Friday
evening to assist in the opening. These
were Messrs. L. J. Carlson, of Spar
tanburg; j. H. Clary, of Charlotte, N.
C., and M. Farrar, of Fayetteville, N.
C.
The lighting fixtures, which are de-
signed especially for the Kress stores,
are most modern. A system of indi-
rect lighting is used In the Ave large
windows. as we'll as in all the show
cases. Gas and electricity are both
used. Large ceiling fans are distribut-
ed over the entire building and keep
winter, the building is heated by
steam. The show cases, for, display
ing the candy, are so arranged that
they are dust and germ proof. The
containers, from which the candy is
sold to the customers. are made of
aluminium and are kept covered at all
times so that the candy is always alb
solutely sanitary.
The large stock of goods carried is
varied and complete. During the
opening days of the store, 40 sales
women are employed and the regu-
lar number to be employed thereafter
will be about 25.
The greater part of the second floor
is used as a stock room, i'm which
complete duplicate stock is carried so
that there will be no delay in re-
plenishing the regular stock, as it is
sold out. In one front corner is To-
Gated the candy department A dumb
waiter is used to carry down any need
ed stock to the candy counter. Rest
rooms, which are completely furnished
are also located on this floor for the
use of the salesladies.
No expense has been spared to make
this store most complete and up-to-
date in every detail. Mr.. Garno will
be the manager of the Sumter store.
GOVERNMENT FEEDS L. w. w.