Our second look at the downtown of this city, which surely was shot by the GoogleCar on a Sunday. No one's home.

As I said last week, here's what the town's website says: “Del Rio has been a proud Texas Main Street City since 2002, actively supporting expansion of the downtown economic base by assisting in recruiting more businesses to downtown, advertising available properties in the district, assisting with historic preservation efforts and streetscape improvements.”

Let’s see how that’s working out for them.

A classic Kress:

I can’t quite read what happened to the lower floors. The windows over the main floor have been painted, as anyone could see, but those bricks over the windows? Different style, different hue.

Nothing in this pitch for historical status.

Ah: take a look at this building, if you like. It has a big Kress sign bolted on the front. That’s why the space looks the way it does.

Defaced by the usual fools.

History:

Del Rio’s Kress Building architecture was an example of the “artistic expression” that became part of the store’s marketing with the “signature storefront.” The storefront was known across the US, but the third story on our building is rare on this style. (Watch the façade glow in the light of the setting sun.) The hardwood floors, iron supporting columns and pressed-tin ceilings are preserved intact. The Kress Building was built by Max Stool in 1927, and the Kress stayed open into the 1990s.

The story of Kress is one of the great stories of American retailing and architecture, and it's completely unknown to those of us in the North.

A beautiful modernized storefront, now abandoned:

The Guarantee may no longer apply.

If you think it’s been painted, you might be right.

From the walking tour page:

Giles was an English immigrant to San Antonio whose architectural skill was known across Texas. More than a dozen of his buildings have been awarded Texas Historical Commission markers.

An English architect in Texas. There’s a movie I want to see.

Let’s hope the C isn’t the first to fall off:

While it’s always nice to see the old brands and logos, it doesn’t suggest that the place is a going concern.

"I'd like some tires. Oh, and a major appliance."

"You've come to the right place!"

Every town should have a one-stop shop for hoes:

Here’s a venerable senior:

It’s a miracle that buildings like this survive; usually fire or age takes them. That has to be from 189x or the early oughts, at the latest.

Finally: the old Del Rio National Bank, spoiled by a heavy-handed modernization:

It was the First National Bank, built just before the Depression hit. It failed.

Look. If you’re going to ruin a building, ruin the whole damned thing.

Here's the town. Give it a look -