View of one-story Pacific First Federal Savings building on March 14, 1961. Clock mounted on building indicates it was nearly 3:30 in the afternoon when this photograph of the Villa Plaza branch was taken. Pacific First Federal was a mutual savings institution with branches in the Northwest; established in 1907, its headquarters were in downtown Tacoma. Rudolph J. Tollefson, assistant vice-president, was listed in the 1961 City Directory as being in charge of the Villa Plaza location.

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Lakewood); Clocks & watches;

Exterior - Sherwin-Williams Paint Store, Lakewood. Sherwin-Williams opened up a paint store in Lakewood's Villa Plaza Shopping Center in 1958. Besides a wide variety of house and marine paints and wallpapers, the store also offered rental equipment in the form of sanders and rug cleaning shampooers. View of storefront showing large company signage with their motto, "SWP Cover the Earth," near the rooftop and rug cleaning equipment outside the plate glass window. The Lakewood Sherwin-Williams store was managed by Kenneth H. Baxter. Photograph ordered by Norman Iverson, Villa Plaza Development.

Sherwin-Williams Paint Co. (Lakewood); Paint industry--Lakewood; Facades--Lakewood--1950-1960;

ca. 1958. Exterior view of a newly constructed Pacific 1st Federal Savings building located in the Villa Plaza Shopping Center. A large outdoor clock would be later mounted above the lower roof extension. The financial institution opened their Villa Plaza branch on January 2, 1958. The 2000+ sq. foot structure had an exterior of pre-cast marble Mosaic and large roof-to-ground windows. It was designed by Tacoma architects Lea, Pearson & Richards. Pacific 1st Federal was the largest savings & loan in the Pacific Northwest with offices in Washington and Oregon. It served more than 57,000 families. Rudolph J. Tollefson of the well-known Tacoma family of Tollefsons was the first branch manager at the Villa Plaza location. He had been with Pacific 1st Federal since 1935. (TNT 1-2-58, A-6-text only)

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;

ca. 1958. Interior of Pacific 1st Federal Savings building, Villa Plaza. The 2000+ sq.ft. savings & loan opened at the Villa Plaza Shopping Center on January 2, 1958. It held an open house from January 2-10th. Tones of brown and gold decorated the building's interior. Its lobby had a white granite fireplace. Pacific 1st Federal was the largest savings & loan in the Northwest and served more than 57,000 families at the time. It had its main office in downtown Tacoma and branches elsewhere in Washington and Oregon. Rudolph J. Tollefson was the Villa Plaza location's first manager. He had been associated with the savings & loan since 1935 and prior to that had been employed by the University National Bank in Seattle and Bank of California in Tacoma. Mr. Tollefson was the brother of Congressman Thor Tollefson and Tacoma Mayor Harold Tollefson. (TNT 1-2-58, A-6-text only)

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Lakewood); Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;

ca. 1957. Interior- Thriftway supermarket. A customer would not need to linger in lines for any length of time as the new Villa Thriftway came equipped with at least eleven check-out stands. At least one stand was expressly for quick check-out with six items or less. Customers were asked to place items on the movable belt with the prices up for faster service. Scales were provided at each stand so that produce could be weighed. Boxes of cigarettes were readily available on top of each cash register. The new 22,000 square foot supermarket was located in the Villa Plaza shopping center in Lakewood at the site of the former Visitation Villa. Photograph ordered by Associated Grocers, Inc. (TNT 4-2-57, B-7)

Villa Thriftway Food Stores (Lakewood); Supermarkets; Cash registers;

ca. 1957. Exterior- Thriftway. The Villa Thriftway supermarket would open for business in April, 1957. The store's name is in large neon letters on the building's porch roof. The overhanging porch would also protect customers from the elements as they entered or exited the store. Following an architectural trend, enormous windows are positioned at the supermarket's front. Located in Lakewood's new Villa Plaza Shopping Center, the 22,000 square foot store was built to order for a Thriftway market. It cost approximately $200,000. The shopping center boasted of plenty of parking; there was room for 4000 cars. Photograph ordered by Associated Grocers, Inc. (TNT 4-2-57, B-7)

Villa Thriftway Food Stores (Lakewood); Supermarkets; Electric signs--Lakewood;