McCorkle Building

McCorkle Furniture Company

322 North Court Street

This lot was a private residence in the late 1800’s and into the 1910’s. The current building was constructed in 1951 for the McCorkle Furniture Company. The building is made of steel with a brick and tile veneer. The company sold furniture, appliances, and pianos. The third floor was used for storage and served as a piano and electrical appliance repair shop, while the first two floors were used as display areas.

Downtown Department Stores

Downtown department stores were a mainstay in many cities until the mid-1960's and 1970's. With sleek facades and large display windows, downtown department stores projected a modern image. The architecture of these stores was selected to help cultivate that image. McCorkle's had a slick black tile veneer that put forth a clean, stylish look. During the 60's, 70's, and 80's, many department stores left downtown areas for new suburban strip malls. These newer stores eschewed style and architecture in favor of efficiency and convenience.

Below are links to some of Florence's downtown department stores from the past.