Banners announcing the grand opening of the area's latest Kmart are twisted and crumpled but enough of the wording remains to alert the public of the Lakewood store's July 20th opening. The banners were attached to the large freestanding store sign with the familiar red "K." This would be the third Kmart in the Tacoma-area and the 11th in the state. Kmart had announced plans to open 75 new stores in 1972, including this store at 100th & Bridgeport Way. Photograph ordered by SS Kregse Co. (TNT 8-25-71, A-1-article; TNT 7-16-72, A-4 ad; TNT 7-19-72, A-2- article; TNT 7-21-72, A-9-article; TNT 7-23-72, D-9- article)

Banners--Lakewood; Kmart (Lakewood); Department stores--Lakewood--1970-1980; Electric signs--Lakewood;

Exterior view of Kmart, 100th & Bridgeport Way. Kmart store #4467 opened on Thursday, July 20, 1972, at 10 a.m. The brick structure was similar in design to the Kmart stores at 72nd & Portland Ave. and on Sixth Ave. with plenty of free parking available in the well-lit lot. Robert W. Henley was the store's first manager; its 150 full-time employees would be a boon to Tacoma's economy. Photograph ordered by SS Kresge Co. (TNT 8-25-71, A-1- article; TNT 7-16-72 Ad A-4; TNT 7-19-72, A-2 -article; TNT 7-21-72, A-9-article)

Kmart (Lakewood); Department stores--Lakewood--1970-1980; Parking lots--Lakewood;

Parking lot at new Kmart. Hundreds of shoppers would be gathering at the site of the new Kmart at 100th & Bridgeport Way a bit later in the morning of July 20, 1972. when store #4467 would be hosting its grand opening. This empty parking lot, capable of holding 700 cars, would not be empty for long. This would be the 11th Kmart in Washington State and third in the Tacoma-area. Photograph ordered by SS Kresge Co. (TNT 8-25-71, A-1- article; TNT Ad 7-16-72, A-4; TNT 7-19-72, A-2 -article; TNT 7-21-72, A-9-article);

Kmart (Lakewood); Department stores--Lakewood--1970-1980; Parking lots--Lakewood;

Interior view of new Kmart store. "Satisfaction Always" promised a large Kmart sign hanging from the ceiling of the new Kmart store located at 100th & Bridgeport Way in Lakewood. It opened for business on Thursday, July 20, 1972. Situated on 11 acres on 100th St., the location was the former home of prominent Tacoman Dr. Christian Quevli which was destroyed by fire in the 1930's. Both the exterior and interior of the new store were similar to other Tacoma-area Kmarts: brick exteriors with long lines and interiors that were brightly lit and divided into jewelry, clothing, sporting goods, appliances, household goods and other departments. The Lakewood Kmart had 84,000 square feet of space. Photograph ordered by SS Kresge Co. (TNT 8-25-71, A-1-article; TNT ad 7-16-72, A-4; TNT 7-19-72, A-2-article; TNT 7-21-72, A-9-article)

Kmart (Lakewood); Department stores--Lakewood--1970-1980; Signs (Notices);