Passersby glance at the clearance merchandise in the windows of the J.C. Penney's downtown Broadway store in early September, 1965. Penney's would be relocating its main store to the city's southside, in the new Tacoma Mall Shopping Center. The downtown store would close on October 2, 1965, with the new Tacoma Mall store to open on October 13th. Penney's need for more parking and more area to expand led them to move the main store to the mall with its 7,000-car parking lot. New departments added to the store would include a 50-seat coffee shop, gun department, and a separate auto center. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound National Bank. (TNT 8-24-65, p. 1)

J.C. Penney Co. (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1960-1970; Facades--Tacoma--1960-1970; Signs (Notices);

Exterior view of J.C. Penney store. Built in 1916 and known as the Frye Building, the J.C. Penney department store made substantial renovations to the building with its occupancy in the 1930's, prompting a visit from company founder, J.C. Penney in 1934. Ornamental frieze and the Italianate style of architecture make an interesting contrast to the more modern display windows found on the first floor. Photograph ordered by the J.C. Penney Co.

J.C. Penney Co. (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Facades--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Celebrating J.C. Penney's 11th anniversary at its downtown Tacoma store with a huge cake are, left to right: Ella York, M. J. Keeley, Esther Sahlin, Frank Walsh, Myrtle Hodge, Louise Kretchmann, and Verona Howard. Six of the seven employees pictured above have been with the store since its opening in 1927. Mrs. York is in alterations, Mr. Keeley is the assistant manager, Miss Sahlin of the silk department, Mr. Walsh is a janitor, Mrs. Hodge of the boys department, Mrs. Kretchmann of coats, and Mrs. Howard is the personnel director. An employees party was held at The Firs to celebrate the event. (T. Times 10/20/1938, p. 9).

J.C. Penney Co. (Tacoma); Anniversaries--Tacoma; Cakes--Tacoma;