Interior of Groff's Natural Foods. Groff's, in downtown Tacoma, stressed the importance of eating right, using "natural" foods and vitamins to keep a person healthy. Whole grain flour and cereals, a selection of salt-free foods, Vitamin A-packed carrot juice, 100% pure honey, and even mineralized cookies were offered to discerning customers. Jugs of papaya juice, surely not a standard on the 1950's breakfast tables, were also available for purchase. Groff's was to celebrate its grand reopening on October 28, 1955. The store had been in the same location in the Crystal Palace Shopping Center at 11th & Market Sts. for the past fifteen years. Owner Virgil Groff claimed his store had the largest supply of vitamins in Tacoma. Photograph ordered by Groff's Natural Foods. (TNT 10-27-55, A-8)

Groff's Natural Foods (Tacoma); Nutrition--Tacoma--1950-1960; Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior Lakewood Thriftway. The sleek modern lines of the Lakewood Thriftway supermarket were photographed on October 3, 1954. The flat overhanging roof jutting out from the concrete block building would provide protection from the weather for waiting customers . The Lakewood Thriftway would celebrate its grand opening October 7-9, 1954, with an impressive array of free gifts. Orchids, coffee, cake, ice cream, merry-go-round and pony rides would be provided free of charge. 7,500 different varieties of foods would be offered for sale in the 12,000 square foot store. Stan Engle was the co-owner and general manager of the new supermarket. Photograph ordered by the Condon Co., Inc., an advertising agency. (TNT 10-6-54, B-5)

Thriftway Food Stores (Lakewood); Grocery stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Groff's Natural Foods. Groff's was owned by Virgil Groff and offered vitamins and all natural foods to the discerning consumer. Groff stands at the entrance of his new store at 11th & Market. The store was formerly located in the same building, but moved to the space on the corner previously occupied by Frank's Jewelers. It was rebuilt with a new brick front, new flooring and lighting, window displays and entrances. Displayed in the windows are 100% pure honey and green Papaya juice for digestion. The interior color scheme was sunshine yellow and chlorophyll green. The oldest health food store in Tacoma, it was founded in 1928 as Thomson's Natural Food Store. Groff purchased the store in 1943 and expanded and modernized three times. The new store had a 3 1/2 ton walk in refrigerator to keep fresh natural foods and whole grains, also raw carrots for the juice extractor at the Juice Bar. Virg Groff was an energetic man who played handball and performed with the Tacoma Little Theatre. He claimed his success and energy came from "shots" of wheat germ and carrot juice consumed throughout the day. (TNT 2/19/1956, pg. A-5)

Groff's Natural Foods (Tacoma); Nutrition--Tacoma--1950-1960; Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior Tradewell supermarket. This is the 6th & Union Tradewell store, one of four in the local area, on August 18, 1960. Built of Roman brick and featuring plate glass and Van de Kamps bakery, the north end supermarket opened in May, 1953. It would be destroyed by fire on September 16, 1963, and subsequently demolished. Photograph ordered by Tradewell Stores, Inc., Seattle. TPL-9439

Tradewell Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Supermarkets--Tacoma--1960-1970;

George and Mary Demich opened this "mom and pop" neighborhood grocery store in 1914 at the corner of North 45th and Orchard Street. The North 45th Street Grocery & Meat Market was ideally located on a streetcar line. Advertisements for Medosweet Ice Cream and Ghirardelli's Chocolate are prominently displayed in this 1934 photograph of the Demichs. The neighborhood market closed after George's death in 1958 and was demolished a few years later.

Gig Harbor grocery store at 3409 Harborview Dr., Gig Harbor, as photographed in November of 1936. The Stanich Grocery, a Red & White Store, is on the right side of the two-lane road. Martin and Katherine (Kathie) Stanich were early Yugoslav settlers in Gig Harbor. Mr. Stanich was a retired fisherman who had sailed the northwest waters for 52 years. The Stanichs were natives of Austria who had lived in Gig Harbor since 1909. Martin Stanich would pass away at age 90 in September of 1950 and his wife, Katherine, in January of 1964 at age 86. TPL-682, BU-13762

Rosalie Wale, who owned the Arctic Dairy at 534 Fourth St. in Bremerton with her husband, was photographed making ice cream in their store with the help of a special ice cream freezer. Mrs. Wale balanced her day between taking care of her home and helping her husband in his business. She was featured in the Bremerton Sun's August 12, 1936 "Around the Clock" feature, an appropriate title because her work day began before 8 am and finished after 9 or 10 at night. Mrs. Wale, the former Rosalie Greathouse, was born in Anacortes and attended high school in Mount Vernon. (Bremerton Sun 8-12-1936, pg. 1)

Grocery stores--Bremerton--1930-1940; Exhibitions--Bremerton--1930-1940; Wale, Rosalie; Arctic Dairy (Bremerton); Ice cream & ices;

ca. 1932. Roberts Bros. Grocers delivery truck Number 4 accident, circa 1932. Front of vehicle hanging several feet over a stone wall and resting on vine-covered front porch of a house. (filed with Argentum)

Roberts Bros. Grocery (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Traffic accidents--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Airway Coffee display at Piggly Wiggly store, Puyallup. Model of airplane hanger with four airplanes, bags of coffee on left. Sign above reads "Serve Yourself and Save." (filed with Argentum)

Grocery stores--Puyallup--1930-1940; Piggly Wiggly (Puyallup); Coffee--Puyallup;

Exterior of open stall Grocery Store. Clerk and woman customer flank display of Kraft Cheese. Large chunk of cheese marked "Wisconsin Swiss, Guess Weight and Win a Basket of Groceries". (Tacoma South Herald or East Side News)

Business Enterprises - Stores - Grocery Stores - Tacoma Advertising - Contests and Promotions

ca. 1926. Grocery store interior. Dairy case, canned goods on shelves, coffee grinder, scale, adding machine, Tree Tea display on counter.(filed with Argentum)

Grocery stores--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1925. In 1925, McKinley Hill had a thriving business community, with locally owned shops and stores lining its sidewalks. Pictured left to right at 3504 McKinley Ave. are Porter's Barber Shop (owned by Ollie B. Porter), Central Shoes (A. Don Soper) and "Gents Furnishings" (Chester & Olsen). 3502B McKinley appears to be vacant and on the right, at 3502 A McKinley, is the Piggly Wiggly grocery store. In 1928, Mr. Porter, the barber, had the Porter Apartments constructed at this location. Although the newspaper doesn't specify this, it appears that the two stories of apartments were built on top of this commercial space. E. Taylor Gardner, of 3618 E "L", was the architect and contractor for the Porter Apartments. (WSHS)

Piggly Wiggly (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1920-1930; Porter's Barber Shop (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Washington State Apple Advertising Commission display at Franklin Food Store. Apple crates stacked on a slope and on floor, signs hanging overhead and around boxes.

Franklin Food Stores (Tacoma); Advertisements--Tacoma; Advertising--Tacoma; Publicity; Apples;

ca. 1934. Interior of a Franklin Food Store, circa 1934. The 1934 City Directory lists Franklin Food Stores at 121 No. G St., 602 So. 38th and the Crystal Palace Public Market. View from above shoppers in the grocery store. Long lines are qued up, going out of the frame of the camera; probably lined up at the check out stands. (filed with Argentum)

Franklin Food Stores (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Interior of H. Berger and Son's newest store at 8108 South Tacoma Way. Canned food display, woman in apron at center. This was the fourth retail store opened by Henry Berger and his four sons. (filed with Argentum)

H. Berger & Sons (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1930-1940;

The staff of a Franklin Foods Store poses in their Jubilee hats. In 1939, Franklin had locations at the Crystal Palace Public Market, 117 No. G, 5408 South Tacoma Way and 602 So. 38th. The man on the right of the standing row is possibly owner and founder George G. Franklin. In 1936, Franklin purchased Haddaway Hall, 4301 No. Stevens, from the Weyerhaeuser estate.

Franklin Food Stores (Tacoma)--Employees; Washington State Golden Jubilee, 1939--Tacoma;

ca. 1927. Stand, #364?, at the Crystal Market. In the background is the Florida Fruit Co., Stall 52. (WSHS)

Markets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Crystal Palace Market (Tacoma);

Interior of Safeway Store on South Tacoma Way.

Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Interior of Safeway Store on South K Street. Empty of customers at the time of this late September, 1942, photograph, the store was still brightly lit with hanging lamps. Safeway in the 1940s had over 15 locations in the Tacoma area.

Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Interior of Safeway Store on South K Street.

Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Safeway Store in Downtown Tacoma with remodeled Art Deco facade.

Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Looking south on South K Street from north of 11th Street. Mottau Building, Russell and Lance, Architects, 1934 at right center. Taken for Safeway Stores on September 28, 1942.

Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mottau Building (Tacoma);

Interior of Arney's Market highlighting the meat department. The cold cases show delicatessen and cold cuts, meats to be purchased by weight and on top are condiments for meat. Four butchers stand behind the cases. Hams and signs for Coop turkeys hang from pipes extending from the ceiling behind them. Swinging doors lead to the back and windows in the front allow us to see parked automobiles.

Meat; Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Butchers;

Interior of the Thriftway Market highlighting the meat department. The cold cases show meats to be purchased by weight and three sets of scales are shown. Five butchers stand behind the cases. Lights hang over the cases. It looks like the meat shortages during the war are nearly over.

Meat; Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Butchers;

Geiger's Central Market, fixtures for Reed's Cabinets & Fixtures. Interior of the grocery store. Four members of the staff stand in the center of a produce stand filled with melons, fruits, and other produce. Shoppers is the background moved while the camera lens was open so they appear as shadows. Reed's Cabinet & Fixture Shop took over a 50' x 90' surplus government warehouse at 1751 Center Street and specialized in store fixtures, show cases, walk-in boxes and other commercial fittings. (T.Times, 8/8/1946, p.8; 8/14/1946, p.5)

Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Geiger's Central Market (Tacoma); Farm produce;

Shoppers at the self-serve meat department of Park-N-Shop pause to examine the wide variety of meats, fish, and fowl available in August, 1950. Instead of giving an order to a butcher and waiting in line for the order to be filled, the customer could save time by simply selecting from pre-packaged meats. Park-N-Shop was a grocery store located at 9662 Pacific Avenue in Parkland.

Park-N-Shop, Inc. (Parkland); Meat; Grocery stores--Parkland--1950-1960;

Interior of Hogan's 8th grocery store, at 98th & Pacific Ave., for its Grand Opening March 9-11, 1951. All of the Hogan Grocery Stores were owned by Walter Hogan, who also owned Western Grocery Co., a wholesale grocery outlet for retailers. This store offered Southeast Tacoma and the surrounding rural areas a complete assortment of groceries, meats, produce and dairy. The store had 5600 sq. ft. of merchandising floor space and a color scheme of chartreuse green and wine. The flooring was wine, red and brown. Mirrored produce cases reflected the jewel tones of the fruits and vegetables. The highlight of the opening was the giving away of four barrels of groceries. (TNT 3/8/1951, pg. C-4)

Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hogan's Fine Foods (Tacoma); Farm produce--Tacoma;

The beautiful Miss Washington and Miss Wisconsin were visiting Tacoma's Big Bear Stores, they were promoting apples and cheese week. Everyone was invited to participate in the fun, free samples would be available. View of Miss Washington, Libby Aldrich of Kelso, Washington and Miss Wisconsin, Marveen Fischer; the women are leaning against a convertible Buick (T.N.T., 10/14/49, p. B-3).

Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Beauty contestants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Events--Tacoma--1940-1950; Buick automobile; Big Bear Stores (Tacoma); Fischer, Marveen; Aldrich, Libby;

View of Miss Wisconsin, Marveen Fischer, standing with two unidentified men at Tacoma's Big Bear Stores. Miss Wisconsin is representing the dairy and cheese state, and Armour & Company; a huge 2,000 pound mammoth cheddar cheese is on display, free samples of the cheese would be available for Tacoma customers. Big Bear Stores was offering their customers "Miss Universe Real Mild Cheese" for 49 cents per pound; "Miss Wisconsin Medium-Sharp Cheese" for 59 cents per pound; and "Miss Wisconsin Famous Sharp Cheese" for 79 cents per pound (T.N.T., 10/14/49, p. B-3).

Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Beauty contestants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Events--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cheese; Big Bear Stores (Tacoma); Fischer, Marveen; Armour & Co. (Wis.)--Products;

Tacoma was celebrating apples and cheese week at the Big Bear Stores. Miss Washington was representing Washington State's Centennial flour and the apple industry. View of Miss Washington, Libby Aldrich, standing with Don Taylor, left, and Fred Huey from Big Bear Stores; she is holding a sack of Centennial flour. Centennial Flouring Mills display in background (T.N.T., 10/14/49, p. B-3). TPL-9919

Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Beauty contestants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Events--Tacoma--1940-1950; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Big Bear Stores (Tacoma); Aldrich, Libby; Centennial Flouring Mills Co. (Tacoma)--Products; Taylor, Don; Huey, Fred;