Paulson's Appliances, located at the corner of So. 11th & K (now Martin Luther King Jr. Way), was owned by Cliff Paulson. A major part of the K Street Business District, they sold radios, furniture, televisions and appliances on K street from 1941 until 1998. This building, designed by Sutton, Whitney & Dugan and built for Paulson's in 1948, was across the street from their original K Street store. It was next door to the Macphersons Federal Bakery. The building was demolished in August of 1998 to make way for a Rite Aide store. TPL-3790

Home furnishings stores--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Appliance stores--Tacoma; Window displays; Commercial facilities--Tacoma; Paulson's Radios & Appliances (Tacoma);

Mrs. Bernice Rupp (now Mrs. Bernice Rupp Johnson) points out one of several new Motorola television sets being sold in October of 1956 at Paulson's Appliances, located at the corner of South 11th & "K" (now Martin Luther King Jr. Way). The store was owned by Cliff Paulson. They sold radios, furniture, and appliances including that most important 1950's appliance, the television set. Most are large cabinet models, although one at the left is a smaller sceen portable TV on thin metal legs with wheels. Many of Paulson's newspaper ads featured the phrase "Serving K Street and Tacoma for 50 years!" (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Televisions; Home furnishings stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Appliance stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Paulson's Radios & Appliances (Tacoma); Rupp, Bernice; Johnson, Bernice Rupp;

Paulson's Radios and Appliances was celebrating their grand opening in Tacoma. Their new building was an ultra modern facility, built where the Mueller Building from 1889 was previously located. Paulson's had an excellent selection of "Philco" and "General Electric" products. View of businessmen, Clifford Paulson (second from left) at Paulson's Radios and Appliances ribbon cutting ceremony T. Times, 11/19/48, p. 8).

Washing machines; Appliance stores--Tacoma; Home furnishings stores--Tacoma; Dedications--Tacoma; Events--Tacoma; Business people--Tacoma--1940-1950; Commercial facilities--Tacoma; Paulson's Radios & Appliances (Tacoma);

Paulson's Radios and Appliances had a staff of six sales people, and additional store managers, Clifford Paulson would be greeting customers at the grand opening celebration. Interior view of the main floor at Paulson's Radios and Appliances store, basic kitchen appliances in foreground, larger kitchen appliances in background (T. Times, 11/19/48, p. 8-9).

Home furnishings stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Appliances; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Showrooms--Tacoma; Appliance stores--Tacoma; Commercial facilities--Tacoma; Paulson's Radios & Appliances (Tacoma);

The new Paulson's store had 75,000 square feet of space for displays and storage, the building had fluorescent lighting, a freight elevator, a service entrance on South 11th Street and the main entrance on K Street (now known as Martin Luther King Jr. Way). Interior view of Paulson's Radios and Appliances store, top floor showroom had the Philco radios and phonographs, phonograph records on right side (T. Times, 11/19/48, p. 8-9).

Home furnishings stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Appliances; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Showrooms--Tacoma; Appliance stores--Tacoma; Commercial facilities--Tacoma; Paulson's Radios & Appliances (Tacoma);

Clifford Paulson owned Paulson's Radios and Appliances, his brother Arthur Paulson owned Paulson's Jewelry, which was adjacent to this store. Their father, B.Paulson had originally started the family business and eventually sold the business to his sons. Interior view of Paulson's Radios and Appliances store, refrigerators, ranges, washing machines and kitchen center in background (T. Times, 11/19/48, p. 8-9). TPL-9678

Home furnishings stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Appliances; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Showrooms--Tacoma; Appliance stores--Tacoma; Commercial facilities--Tacoma; Paulson's Radios & Appliances (Tacoma);

Paulson's Radios & Appliances had a Grand Opening on November 19, 1948 for its brand new, ultra modern, 75,000 square foot store. The store was located on the southeast corner of South 11th Street and K Street (now known as Martin Luther King Jr. Way) at 1101 So. K, just across the street from where the company had been located since 1940. Their new modern facility was fronted with glass to show off the main floor full of appliances for the home; and had a repair shop on the second floor, as well as radios and photograph records. The concrete and steel structure was designed by John Sutton, of Sutton, Whitney and Dugan- architects. The Mueller Building, built in 1889, was razed to make way for Paulson's; and Paulson's itself was razed in August of 1998 to make way for a Rite Aid drugstore. (T. Times, 11/19/48, p. 8-9).

Home furnishings stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Signs (Notices); Appliance stores--Tacoma; Window displays; Commercial facilities--Tacoma; Paulson's Radios & Appliances (Tacoma);

Dr. John and Mrs. Patricia Flynn look at a new console television set in a modern, blonde cabinet for Christmas in 1951 while at Paulson's. Their children, Michael, 8, and Patty, 3, will dazzle neighborhood children with the family's purchase. Recent improvements in televisions included 16-20 inch screens for larger image, more diversified programming and dark tubes to cut down glare. (TNT 11-25-1951, B-4-alt. photo)

Flynn, John; Flynn, John--Family; Flynn, Patricia; Flynn, Michael; Flynn, Patty; Televisions; Shopping--Tacoma--1950-1960;