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Sebastian Spering Kresge (July 31, 1867 – October 18, 1966) was an American businessman. He created and owned two chains of department stores, the S. S. Kresge Company, one of the 20th century's largest discount retail organizations, and the Kresge-Newark traditional department store chain.
The S.S. Kresge Company made notable contributions to Detroit architecture, specifically the Kresge Building (now the Kales Building) on Grand Circus Park, an Albert Kahn design that served as company headquarters from 1914-1930.
S. S. Kresge, the founder of the company that would become Kmart, met variety-store pioneer Frank Winfield Woolworth while working as a traveling salesman and selling to all 19 of Woolworth's stores at the time. In 1897, Kresge invested $6,700 saved from his job into a five-and-dime store in Memphis, Tennessee.
Founded by retailer Sebastian S. Kresge in 1924, The Kresge Foundation continues to fulfill his mandate: To promote human progress.
S.S. Kresge (born July 31, 1867, Bald Mount, Pa., U.S.—died Oct. 18, 1966, East Stroudsburg, Pa.) was an American merchant who established a chain of nearly 1,000 variety and discount stores throughout the United States.
Retail chain founder Sebastian Spering Kresge was born in Bald Mount, Pennsylvania on July 31, 1867. His parents, Sebastian Sr. and Catherine Kunkle Kresge were Pennsylvania Dutch farmers.
S. S. Kresge. (Sebastian Spering Kresge) merchant, philanthropist. Born: 7/31/1867. Birthplace: Bald Mount, Pa. With a newly minted business degree in hand, Kresge worked as a traveling tinware salesman (1890–97) before opening the first of his discount retail stores whose merchandise was all priced at less than a dime.
