Last month, Bham Now was invited to see the latest renovations to the ballroom at the Kress Building (301 19th Street N.)in downtown Birmingham.

Purchased in the early 2000s by Kress LLC, the lower level was home to the Red Mountain Theatre (RMT).

When RMT moved out of the space a few years ago to build and operate their own theatre and campus for the arts, the owners of the Kress had to make a decision about what to do with the lower level.

They decided to renovate the space and transform the theatre into a ballroom.

“We’ve always believed that there was a need for a large event space in downtown Birmingham with parking attached, where you can pick your own caterer and beverage people,” said Dennis Pantazis, a member of Kress Building LLC.

The new ballroom can seat between 280-300 people. The spacious room—which can hold approximately 600 people—includes a number of amenities, such as:

A built-in dance floor
A large stage
Video screen with 4K resolution
Two built-in bars
Reception area
A VIP room or side room that can house food and or other events

In addition to the ballroom space, they have also added three large conference rooms.

Complements the Rooftop

In addition to the ballroom on the lower level, the Kress building includes a stunning rooftop experience. Updated about three years ago, the rooftop provides some of the best views in town of the Alabama & Lyric Theatres, Vulcan and the Regions Center and Shipt Tower.

The flooring has been redone. There is a bocce court and it has built-in heaters.

Built in 1937, the Kress Building has a lot of character.

“A lot of people told us you just need to move into one of the new buildings, it’s too much hassle to renovate buildings. But we fell in love with this building,” Pantazis told Bham Now. This is an art modern building that was built in the 30s during the Depression, the original Kress owners wanted to have a palace. They brought chandeliers in, marble and brass. Even though they were a five and dime store, this building was a place that made you feel special, no matter whether you were rich or poor.”

Plan a Visit

Planning a wedding, a special event for a loved one or a conference? Set up a tour of the Historic Kress Building in downtown Birmingham. Visit KRESSBHM.com for details.

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