City Directories and History: KERRISON DRY GOODS BUILDING / 257 King Street
Constructed circa 1920; storefront rehabilitated 1996-97
“Kerrison’s Dry Goods spent its early years, after its founding in 1830, at the site of the Riviera
1920s view of the store. Courtesy of the Charleston Museum Archives and Historic Charleston Foundation Archives – 2016
Theater (227 King Street). It took over new quarters in the 1860s on Hasell Street. The latter building was enlarged in 1920 with the four-story yellow brick section facing King Street. The first floor storefront, infilled with architectural glass work, provided the chief ornamentation for the otherwise simple facade, now with three bays of triple windows on each floor but missing its modillioned cornice.
Illustration of this address – Guide to Charleston, S.C. by A. Mazyck, (1875)
Billed in recent years as the South’s oldest department store, this headquarters facility closed after Hurricane Hugo in 1989, and remaining suburban operations ceased in 1996. The building has undergone a recent renovation for a new clothing store.”
Information from: The Buildings of Charleston – J.H. Poston for the Historic Charleston Foundation, 1997
Mrs. Ann H. White of Rock Hill ordered goods from the firm of Fogarties and Stillman at #257 King Street in pre Civi War Charleston, S.C. Additionally, druggiest J.E. Torlay also had an office here who was the successor to William A. Skrine.
Other sources: Charleston Tax Payers of Charleston, SC in 1860-61, Dwelling Houses of Charleston by Alice R.H. Smith – 1917, Charleston 1861 Census Schedule, and a 1872 Bird’s Eye View of Charleston, S.C. The Hist. Charleston Foundation may also have additional data at: Past Perfect
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User comments always welcome - please post at the bottom of this page.
I have an old hat given to me that was purchased from this store and I wondered where it was and the history behind it. Now I know. Going to wear my hat and take a picture at the store the next time I am in town.