The Crites Building was designed by Bakersfield architect Benjamin McDougall (1865-1937) of McDougall Brothers of San Francisco and constructed as a two-story retail business by Charles J. Lindgren Company of San Francisco in 1900 for John Bartholome Berges (1865 – 1916). The first occupant was Redlick Brothers of San Francisco, a clothing company that conducted business there from 1901 to 1910. The second floor was occupied by the Savoy Hotel from 1912 to 1936. Louis V. Olcese (1863 – 1929), president of Ardizzi-Olcese Bank, bought the building in 1916, and Arthur S. Crites (1879 – 1957) acquired it in 1929. After the building was damaged by fire in 1936, local contractor Henry Eissler (1878 – 1966) converted the second floor to office space and placed the 'Arthur S. Crites' name on the second-floor corner of the building.