The Smith Building was Smith's Grocery Store and was one the first buildings erected in Beeville circa 1890 designed by architect Jules Leffland. Smith's sold dry goods and hardware. In 1934, it became the main theater while the Rialto was being remodeled by W.C Stephenson after a fire. The building was then converted into the Rio Theater, altering the first floor arcade. The Rio Theater operated as a theater until the early 1970’s showing Spanish language films.

Several Spanish language theaters in other Texas communities have been recognized as historically significant and designated on the National Register of Historic Places. They were typically built to capitalize on the demand for Spanish-language entertainment created by the influx of Mexican Braceros into the United States during the 1940's.

The first floor has a small office after exiting the foyer and leads into an open space where the seating and movie screen was located. Restrooms, concession area with storage and long balcony are along the east side of  the ground floor. Second and third floor balconies line the east and west walls of building. Their placement allows an opening in middle of building to view the skylight from below.

Like its neighbor at 108, this two story building is distinguished by a tripart facade favored by Jules Leffland with a four-arched first floor (the smaller arch to the right was for the second floor entry door). A central pediment bracketed between small turrets gives a strong vertical emphasis to the composition. Comparing this facade with an old view of N. Washington St., the corbelled cornice, turrets, and gabled centerpiece are common on many buildings.