Historic Kress Department Store building to get makeover

TAMPA, Fla. - Tampa's historic 1929 Kress Department Store building will get a facelift starting after the holidays. 

FOX 13 News got an exclusive tour of the building and spoke with Wilson Company president Carolyn "C.W.' Wilson, who says their $9 million dollar purchase of the building and surrounding properties wasn't triggered by Lightning owner Jeff Vinick's Water Street project. 

"What other people do really doesn't influence what i do. I wish him luck. I think he's too smart to do anything like this," she laughed. 

She says the ground floor will likely be used as an event space. She's not sure yet about the three upper floors. 

Parts of the building are in severe disrepair, but she says its solid with old style craftsmanship. 
Wilson says there's no timetable on when the historic building's restoration will be complete.