SAN ANTONIO  — The San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum is expanding its territory. It's taking over the deed of the historic Kress building. 

The Kress building opened as a five and dime in 1939, playing a huge role in San Antonio’s civil rights movement.

“The Kress department store was one of eight that desegregated to negro patrons, March 16, 1960,” said Deborah Omowale-Jarmon, SAAACAM CEO/director. “What is even more significant about the Kress building, it was the first building that opened that day.”

Now the building’s deed belongs to the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum. 

“When we open to the public in June of 2026, it is our desire for the seniors to walk in first,” Omowale-Jarmon said. “They will remember a time when they couldn’t come into this store.”

Omowale-Jarmon says they have big plans for the Kress building as they transition from the current location in La Villita.

“We’ll have over 20,000 square feet of exhibition space,” Omowale-Jarmon said. “Compared to what you have now? Seven hundred fifteen square feet.”

The five-floor cultural center will feature exhibits, an auditorium, event space and a boutique hotel.

“With San Antonio’s 63% occupancy rate, and even with a management company running the hotel for us, we’re still looking to net around $300,000 a year for that,” Omowale-Jarmon said.

In the first year at the Kress building, SAAACAM expects $2.3 million in revenue, becoming the largest museum in Texas documenting history from the Black perspective.

“We want the community to feel a sense of ownership,” Omowale-Jarmon said. “A sense of pride. A sense of community. A place where they can come and just be.”

SAAACAM paid $19 million for the rights to this historic building but still needs to raise $35 million to reimagine this space that’s been empty for decades. 

“If you’re going to take your hard-earned money and invest in your community, we want to celebrate that,” Omowale-Jarmon said.

It’s a lofty goal, but Omowale-Jarmon says they value gifts from the community of any amount.

“Interest-free, $250 a month for three years gets your name on the wall,” she said.