Vacated in the late '70's when the major downtown anchor store relocated to the new suburban mall.

Learning the vacant Belk building was being considered by investors for use as an adult entertainment center, Swiss Bear worked with four local banks and acquired the property. A local partnership purchased the property in 1985, investing $2.2 million to rehabilitate what is now the O. Marks Building, with three floors of offices, a sandwich shop, and branch post office.