Kimbrell's building in circa 1920 picture There's nothing like an "original."

Whether it be the first version of a movie or car model, people often refer back to the one that broke the mold for others to imitate and follow in the future.

Some of Gaffney's older residents remember the brick facades of buildings in the city's downtown area, most of which have been covered through various renovations.

In recent years, however, there has been a renewed interest in bringing the "good ol' days" back, giving downtown Gaffney a look more reminiscent of the 1940s and '50s.

The owners of longtime downtown business Kimbrell's Furniture are getting a head start on that task, recently beginning work on remodeling the North Limestone Street location.

The project is expected to take approximately two months, but will not cause the store to close, said Kimbrell's district manager Steve Huskey.

"It's been a while since the building has had a new look, so we felt it was the appropriate time for a facelift," he said.

Crews from Poole Construction Co. have already started work on the building, pulling down parts of the existing facade to expose original brickwork. Installing replacement windows, an awning and stucco work to the building's entrance are planned.

It's all a part of restoring the building to its original charm.

"When I was speaking with people at the Cherokee Historical and Preservation Society, I saw a picture of the building from the 1920s and felt it would be nice to go back to the original, general look," Huskey said. "It's not going to be exact, but these renovations will allow us to reinforce our continued commitment to the downtown business district."

There are also plans to renovate the entrance and interior of the Frederick Street store.

"Kimbrell's has had a long and quite successful history in the Gaffney market; our customers have been great," Huskey said. "We've seen so many neighboring downtown businesses pick up and leave, but hopefully this shows people we're committed to staying here."