New eastside Kmart store. Claiming to be the largest discount department store in the world and still rapidly expanding, the new Kmart store, 1414 E. 72nd St., was pristine and already prepared for business thirteen days before its grand opening. The second of two Kmarts in Tacoma, it carried a large selection of name brand appliances, including washers, refrigerators, freezers, rangers, televisions, guitars, hi-fis and stereos. A complete department store, Kmart also carried toys, furniture and clothing for the family. It was managed by Glenn W. Darling. Photograph ordered by News Tribune. (TNT 9-18-68, C-4)

Kmart (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1960-1970; Appliances; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Grand opening of eastside Kmart. Mayor A.L. Rasmussen stands safely off to one side as hordes of shoppers rush through the doors of the new Kmart at 72nd & Portland Ave. on September 19, 1968. The grand opening of Kmart, the second in Tacoma, attracted hundreds of shoppers eager to check out the store's merchandise. Photograph ordered by Kmart.

Kmart (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1960-1970; Crowds--Tacoma; Shopping--Tacoma--1960-1970; Rasmussen, Albert Lawrence; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970;

The staff of Kmart's newest Tacoma store poses for a group portrait before the doors open to the public for the first time on September 19, 1968. The store, located at 1414 E. 72nd St., was the second Kmart in town; the first was located on Sixth Ave. next to Busch's Drive-In. The eastside Kmart had a large staff, predominantly female who wore either the white uniforms of restaurant workers or the modified aprons of checkers and stockers. The store was managed by Glenn Darling. Photograph ordered by Kmart.

Kmart (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Mayor A.L. "Slim" Rasmussen holds part of the just-snipped ribbon at the ceremonies marking the grand opening of the city's latest Kmart department store on September 19, 1968 as Kmart officials and their families stand close by. From L-R are (unidentified woman), W.E. Warburton and R. Archibald Fawcett, Kmart regional officials; Richard Beebe representing Governor Dan Evans; Mayor Rasmussen; Mrs. Glenn W. Darling and store manager Mr. Darling; Robert E. Dewar and Robert H. Griffin, corporate Kmart officials; (unidentified man in back and unidentified women). The store was located on the east side of town, at 72nd and Portland Ave. It followed closely the October, 1967, opening of the first Kmart on Sixth Ave. Kmart provided its customers with discounted department store wares, appliances, auto services and plenty of free parking. Photograph ordered by Kmart. (TNT 9-20-68, C-19)

Kmart (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1960-1970; Dedications--Tacoma--1960-1970; Rasmussen, Albert Lawrence; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Darling, Glenn W.; Dewar, Robert E.; Griffin, Robert H.; Beebe, Richard; Warburton, W.E.;

New Kmart store. This parking lot would not stay empty long. Kmart opened its second store in Tacoma at E. 72nd & Portland Ave. in the fall of 1968. Tacoma's first Kmart was located on Sixth Ave. and had opened just the year before. The newer Kmart was built similarly to the older one; it had an enormous parking lot for customer convenience and provided the Kmart chain of affordable department store wares, auto services and garden supplies. The bright bold Kmart neon sign would attract hundreds of shoppers to the store's September 19th grand opening. Photograph ordered by the News Tribune. (TNT 9-18-68, C-4)

Kmart (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1960-1970; Electric signs--Tacoma--1960-1970; Parking lots--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Parking lot at new Kmart. Kmart's September 19, 1968, grand opening saw an overflowing parking lot at its E. 72nd & Portland Ave. location. Cars are pictured hunting for an empty spot while others have decided to simply park on the grassy strip outside the store lot. This area had been primarily residential and near the city limits of Tacoma; after Kmart opened its large department store, more businesses would eventually establish themselves nearby. Photograph ordered by Kmart.

Kmart (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1960-1970; Parking lots--Tacoma--1960-1970; Automobiles--Tacoma--1960-1970;