The Stewart W. Criss general store on Market Street was typical of stores at the start of the 20th century in Steubenville.

STEUBENVILLE — The black and white photograph of the S.W. Criss general store shows a time long past when customers shopped the single aisle and asked the store clerk for certain items. The men in the photo are wearing the derby hats popular in the early days of the 20th century, while a young boy stands at a counter and is no doubt thinking about a piece of candy he would like to take home. The S.W. Criss store stood at the corner of South Sixth and Market streets where the parking lot for the Ohio Valley Towers is now located. It was a familiar neighborhood for the Criss family. Stewart Wilson Criss’ son, John Criss, later leased the Imperial Hotel and operated the facility while raising his family in the building. A young John E. Criss Jr. remembered playing on the roof of the former M & M Hardware store located next door to the Imperial Hotel. “The Imperial Hotel was a very popular place because of its cafeteria.