S. H. Kress and Co. Building (Los Angeles, California)

Coordinates: 34°06′04″N 118°20′02″W / 34.101°N 118.334°W

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S. H. Kress and Co. Building
U.S. Historic district Contributing property

The building in 2024
Location of building in Los Angeles County
Location	6608 W. Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, California
Coordinates	34°06′04″N 118°20′02″W / 34.101°N 118.334°W / 34.101; -118.334
Built	1935
Architect	Edward F. Sibbert
Architectural style	Art Deco
Part of	Hollywood Boulevard Commercial and Entertainment District (ID85000704)
Designated CP	April 4, 1985

The S. H. Kress and Co. Building, also known as S. H. Kress or The Kress, is a historic five-floor building at 6608 W. Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood, California. It is known primarily for its architecture and its almost six decades as the flagship location of Fredericks of Hollywood.

History

[edit]

Built in 1935, the S. H. Kress and Co. Building was designed by Edward F. Sibbert,^[1] one of fifty or so S. H. Kress & Co. buildings he designed across the United States.^[2] Like most S. H. Kress and Co. locations, this building features an Art Deco design, with this specific location being "a prime example of the Art Deco style."^[3]

In 1947, Fredericks of Hollywood moved into the building, the location serving as the company's flagship store.^[1] In 1986, the company opened the Celebrity Lingerie Hall of Fame here, showcasing intimate apparel from films such Some Like It Hot, Show Boat, and There's No Business Like Show Business, as well as person items from Mae West, Cher, Madonna, Halle Berry, and others.^[4]^[5] The building and its contents were looting targets during the 1992 Los Angeles riots,^[6] and Fredericks vacated the building in 2005.

In 1984, the Hollywood Boulevard Commercial and Entertainment District was added to the National Register of Historic Places, with this building listed as a contributing property in the district.^[3]

The building underwent a $30 million renovation in 2008, and re-opened with a basement nightclub, ground floor restaurant, mezzanine dining hall and sushi bar, third floor banquet facility/entertainment venue, and rooftop lounge. But despite drawing celebrities such as David Spade, Paris Hilton, Justin Timberlake, and Matthew Perry, the building went vacant again in 2011.^[7]^[8]^[9] In 2012, it was sold for $10.4 million.^[10]

References

[edit]

^ ^a ^b "S.H. Kress Department Store – Hollywood Historic Site". Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
^ Thomas, Bernice L., 1997. America's 5 & 10 Cent Stores: The Kress Legacy. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-18195-1
^ ^a ^b "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form – Hollywood Boulevard Commercial and Entertainment District". United States Department of the Interior – National Park Service. April 4, 1985.
^ Nichols, Chris (February 26, 2024). "Ask Chris: What Happened to the Frederick's of Hollywood Museum?". Los Angeles (magazine). Retrieved June 20, 2024.
^ Trott, William C. (November 5, 1989). "See Zsa Zsa's Underwear". UPI. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
^ Mydans, Seth (May 6, 1992). "After the Riots; Confessions of a Star-Struck Looter". The New York Times. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
^ "The Kress lights up Hollywood". ABC7. August 7, 2008.
^ "Star Is Reborn: The Kress Hollywood". Discover Hollywood Magazine, Winter 2008/2009 Issue. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
^ Kat Odell (August 17, 2011). "The Kress and Lula Kabob End Their Run". Eater Los Angeles.
^ "6608 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90028". PropertyShark. Retrieved July 16, 2024.

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