The spacious parking lot is full and more cars seem to be headed toward the grand opening, in early May, 1953, of the newest Tradewell supermarket located at Sixth Avenue & Union. Flags flap briskly in the spring air as shoppers stroll by. The store was built basically in the same style as other Tradewell's; it was a one-story, made of Roman brick, and sported large attractive windows. A Van de Kamps bakery was included in the supermarket. This was store #30; the supermarket would later be destroyed by fire in September, 1963. Photograph ordered by Carl Swanson, Tradewell Stores, Inc.

Tradewell Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Supermarkets; Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parking lots--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Both cars and bicycles are parked outside the new Tradewell supermarket on South 56th and Pacific in February, 1953. As the signs posted on the wall indicated, Tradewell offered free parking for customers. The store was open seven days a week, with shorter hours on Sunday, and stayed open until 11 p.m. on Friday night. Specials changed frequently at Tradewell; a customer could purchase fresh red snapper at 29 cents a pound or giant size detergent Duz or Cheer at 65 cents. Photograph ordered by Washington Mutual Savings Bank.

Tradewell Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Supermarkets; Parking lots--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The newest and largest supermarket in the Puyallup Valley celebrated its grand opening on May 19, 1954. The Piggly-Wiggly, located at 10th & East Main in Puyallup, was the first Piggly-Wiggly built in the past 22 years in the Pacific Northwest. Owned and operated by veteran groceryman, C.A. ("Chic") Hogan, the 10,600 square foot store was made of Roman brick with huge glass front windows. It was built by Strom Construction. Hundreds of gifts ranging from TV sets, bikes, corn poppers to three lively cocker spaniel puppies would be awarded. The new Piggly-Wiggly was one of 800 stores in the chain operating in 38 states, Alaska and Hawaii. It was noted that food cost savings would be achieved due to the supermarket's vast purchasing power. (TNT 5-18-54, B-1) TPL-9808

Piggy-Wiggly (Puyallup); Supermarkets; Grocery stores--Puyallup--1950-1960;

No. Stevens, looking north at the intersection of No. 26th St. On the right is the Hilltop Market at 2517 No. Stevens. On the left is Pop's Service Station at 2601 No. Stevens. Safeway stores ordered these pictures. The City Council would be hearing their application to erect a store at 26th and Stevens on January 4, 1954. The application had been turned down by the City Planning Commission. The hearing was viewed by an overflowing crowd. The main argument against rezoning this area for the erection of a $525,000 Safeway store was the resulting increased traffic. Residents felt that increasing the already heavy flow of traffic would endanger neighborhood children. Safeway argued that traffic was already bad & their off street parking would make the situation better. The supermarket chain also felt that the Planning Commission was protecting the smaller businesses. (TNT 1/5/1954, pg.1) TPL-9908

Hilltop Market (Tacoma); Pop's Service Stations (Tacoma); Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery Stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;

No. 26th St., looking west to the intersection of No. Stevens St. A school bus is turning next to the Hilltop Market at 2517 No. Stevens. Safeway stores ordered these pictures. The City Council was hearing an application from Safeway to erect a $525,000 supermarket at 26th and Stevens. The City Planning Commission had already turned down the application citing the dangers of increased traffic and opposition of the area's residents. The hearing was jammed to overflowing with spectators. Both sides argued their point and the hearing was adjourned without a resolution. (TNT 12/8/1953)

Hilltop Market (Tacoma); Residential streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Sib's Thriftway. The 52nd Thriftway store to open in Washington and Oregon was on No. 26th & Pearl in the Westgate addition. Sib Carstensen was the operator. The store was one of the largest supermarkets in the Northwest. The market sold food, magazines, comic books, housewares, greeting cards and some drugs. It featured a 1,000 car parking lot with 10 feet available between parked cars. The store was the crown jewel of the Westgate Suburban Shopping Center. When all of the stores in the center were complete, they would represent an investment of over one million dollars. The market opened with a three day Grand Opening, with free orchids, coffee & cookies and rides on the merry-go-round ponies for the kiddies. (TNT 9/2/1953, pg. C-1)

Sib's Thriftway (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Snowflake Cracker & jelly display at Franlkin Food Stores, National Biscuit Co. Customers were urged to try Snow Flake Crackers, first box 25 cents and Jelly, 12 oz. 21 cents. Behind this display of crackers and jelly are boxes of Softasilk cake flour, Bisquick and Occident Cake Bake. Canned goods are displayed in the background. Franklin Food Stores grocery and meats main location was 117-23 No. G St. and had branches at 1123 So. K St., 1101 Market St., 602 So. 38th St., and 5252 So. Washington St.

Franklin Food Stores (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Crackers; Preserves--Tacoma;

Several interiors and exteriors of stores in Fircrest, Lakewood Log, Charlie Mann. The interior of the Fircrest Food Market. The small market carried a large selection of canned goods on shelving that was wider at the bottom which made it easier to see what was available there. Frozen foods were displayed in a case along the left side wall as well as dairy items in a cold case next to it. A meat counter was housed in the back of the store. Carts for use by customers are seen by the check out stand.

Fircrest Food Market (Fircrest); Grocery stores--Fircrest--1940-1950; Grocery carts; Meat; Food--Fircrest; Canned foods; Dairy products;

New West Coast Grocery Company building at Tacoma, DFPA, Mrs. Leik. Ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association, the exterior of this building shows the use of plywood in concrete construction. The walls were built using plywood and structural lumber as molds with iron rebar to strengthen the poured concrete. Openings were left for windows to be installed.

West Coast Grocery Co. (Tacoma); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Reinforced concrete construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Storehouses--Tacoma;

New West Coast Grocery Company building at Chehalis, DFPA, Mrs. Leik. West Coast Grocery has built another building using reinforced concrete for their operations, this one in Chehalis. Two large garage doors cover the loading dock when not in use and light can enter from large windows close to the roof.

West Coast Grocery Co. (Chehalis); Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Reinforced concrete construction--Chehalis--1940-1950;

Big Bear Food Store, Bud Merrell, Grocery store interiors, old "Arney's Market", Colemans. Big Bear was opening their first store in Tacoma at the location of the first Stadium Market. Big Bear was well known in Seattle having had several locations there for 16 years. Their policy was, "to provide the foods you want at the lowest prices at which they can be sold". This view features the produce area with displays of fruits, vegetagles and fresh flowers. Dairy products are displayed in the cold cases in the back of the store. A clock hangs on the wall above the dairy cases. (TNT, 1/29/1948, p.3 and p.28)

Big Bear Stores (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fruit; Vegetables--Tacoma; Dairy products; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Flowers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Big Bear Food Store, Bud Merrell, Grocery store interiors, old "Arney's Market", Colemans. The new Big Bear Store has opened for business and the public are enjoying some of the features of the new grocery store. Some shoppers are coming through the check-out stands and workers are ringing up items at the cash registers and bagging groceries. The store had advertised free coffee, doughnuts and balloons for their grand opening. (TNT, 1/29/1948, p.3 and p.28)

Big Bear Stores (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cash registers; Canned foods; Shopping--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Big Bear Food Store, Bud Merrell, Grocery store interiors, old "Arney's Market", Colemans. Big Bear opened its first Tacoma location January 30, 1948. They had seven distinct departments under one roof. With five check stands they hoped to give the speediest service ever offered to Tacoma shoppers. The check out stands and cash registers are lined up near the front of the store. Shelves are filled with canned goods. The whole area is well lit. (TNT, 1/29/1948, p.3 and p.28)

Big Bear Stores (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cash registers; Canned foods;

This building at South 12th & Proctor was originally the Steilacoom Line Power House built for the Tacoma & Steilacoom streetcar line back in 1890. In 1947 the old car barn was remodeled into a new grocery store and drugstore using Douglas Fir plywood. Tacoma Food Mart, selling "Shurfine" products, was managed by A J. Ivory. A short time later, the grocery became an A-G store. The Highland Drugstore pictured above was one of many businesses to occupy the building over the years. Photo ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. TPL-8061

Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Drugstores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Plywood; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Tacoma Food Mart (Tacoma); Highland Drug (Tacoma);

West Coast Grocery. An exterior view of the company's new concrete facility.

West Coast Grocery Co. (Tacoma); Business enterprises--Tacoma--1940-1950; Storehouses--Tacoma;

Aerial view of West Coast Grocery, St. Paul and Tacoma Lumber Company and Tacoma Iron and Steel. The Union Pacific freight depot is across from West Coast Grocery on the Tacoma tideflats. TPL-5528

West Coast Grocery Co. (Tacoma); Union Pacific Railroad Co. (Tacoma); Aerial photographs; Storehouses--Tacoma; Business enterprises--Tacoma--1940-1950;

West Coast Grocery, Charles Hyde. Olympia Branch. The grocery warehouse, facing north, was located on the SW corner of Chestnut and Legion Way in Olympia. The building was made of concrete and had an office entrance in the center, flanked by shipping and receiving departments. The 1947 Sanborn map also indicated there was a railroad spur adjacent along Chestnut. (Additional information provided by a reader)

West Coast Grocery Co. (Olympia); Warehouses--Olympia; Railroad crossings--Olympia;

Younglove Grocery Company was founded by E. A. Younglove in 1907. In 1935 they moved into a new more spacious location, at this location they were better equipped to handle the grocery wholesale demands in this area. Interior view of Younglove Grocery Company's wholesale cash and carry store, large sacks of flour, Quaker Corn Meal, Windex and Kellogg's Bran Flakes are just some of the groceries available in large quantities. A man is checking out with a cart full of grocery items. TPL-8654

Supermarkets--Tacoma; Discounts; Food--Tacoma; Food industry--Tacoma; Mercantile facilities--Tacoma; Younglove Grocery Co. (Tacoma);

Reed Fixtures had moved into a larger building in 1946. They took over a fifty by ninety foot government surplus warehouse located on Center Street. They specialized in business fixtures, display cases and other commercial fixtures. Interior view of grocery store with new Reed fixtures, which included: food shelves, fruit and vegetable bins, and fixtures for frozen foods. This image shows the bins and fixtures stocked.

Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fruit--Tacoma; Vegetables--Tacoma; Food--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Reed's Cabinet & Fixture (Tacoma);

Reed Fixtures had moved into a larger building in 1946. They took over a fifty by ninety foot government surplus warehouse located on Center Street. They specialized in business fixtures, display cases and other commercial fixtures. Interior view of grocery store with new Reed fixtures, which included: food shelves, fruit bins, and fixtures for frozen foods. A shopper gets ready to weigh her bananas.

Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fruit--Tacoma; Vegetables--Tacoma; Food--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Grocery carts; Reed's Cabinet & Fixture (Tacoma);

Reed Fixtures had moved into a larger building in 1946. They took over a fifty by ninety foot government surplus warehouse located on Center Street. They specialized in business fixtures, display cases and other commercial fixtures. Interior view of grocery store with new Reed fixtures, which included: food shelves, fruit bins, and fixtures for frozen foods.

Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Food--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Reed's Cabinet & Fixture (Tacoma);

West Coast Grocery Company had just moved into their new headquarters in Tacoma. This building included, food storage warehouses, offices and subsidiary companies all on one site. The $400,000 building was 640 feet long, 240 feet wide and over 135,000 square feet of space, all on one floor. Aerial view of West Coast Grocery Company.

West Coast Grocery Co. (Tacoma); Aerial photographs; Progress photographs; Storehouses--Tacoma; Business enterprises--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Geiger's Central Market, fixtures for Reed's Cabinets & Fixtures. Interior of the grocery store. Three members of the staff stand by the front check out stand. The signs painted on the windows read Pioneer Grocery and above is Liptons. The shelves offer cookies and crackers and the produce aisle is against the far wall.

Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pioneer Grocery (Tacoma); Food--Tacoma--1940-1950; Canned foods;

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;

Geiger's Central Market, fixtures for Reed's Cabinets & Fixtures. Interior of the grocery store. Six members of the staff stand to the left and a large bouquet stands behind them. The shelves are full of produce and the shopping carts are standing ready. John B. Geiger will be opening his first store after having been in the meat industry since he was 17 years old. A grand opening will be held August 9, 1946.

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

Hogan's Lakewood Center Grocery, Nalley's display. A stack of Nalley's Hamburger Relish selling for 25 cents each is on the shelf over the meat counter. The counter displays potato salad, assorted cold cuts, skinless weiners, lamb, hamburger, and calves liver. A scale to weigh the meat by the pound is at the right. A sign advertises that this store is an "Official Fat Collecting Station". Nalley's reported syrup, salad dressing and oils in short supply compared to demand. Tomato products also continued in short supply. Therefore, the sales drive through the fall months featured hamburger relish. (T.Times, 10/23/1946, p.5)

Grocery stores--Lakewood--1940-1950; Hogan's Fine Foods (Lakewood); Scales; Meat; Food;

Hogan's Lakewood Center Grocery, Nalley's display. A stack of Nalley's Hamburger Relish selling for 25 cents each stands near the cash register. Other products are displayed on shelves behind the register. Nalley's Inc. was started in 1918 by Marcus Nalley. Nalley Valley Center Street Development consists of 3 main plants housing 4 separate food processing operations: the potato chip plant, processing potato chips, popcorn and various nut products; a pickle plant, a federally inspected meat plant, and the Tacoma sales branch offices and Nalley's general branch sales office. (T.Times, 12/10/1947)

Grocery stores--Lakewood--1940-1950; Hogan's Fine Foods (Lakewood); Cash registers; Merchandise displays--Lakewood--1940-1950;

West Coast Grocery, with headquarters in Tacoma, expands their operations. Exterior view of West Coast Grocery store in Chehalis, Washington. Gasoline pumps, advertisements for weekly specials and watermelons in front of store.

Grocery stores--Chehalis; Gasoline pumps--Chehalis; Supermarkets; Watermelons--Chehalis; West Coast Grocery Co. (Tacoma);

West Coast Grocery with headquarters in Tacoma, expand operations. Interior view of West Coast Grocery store in Chehalis, Washington. The cash register, scale and counters are in the foreground. Shelves stocked with food, produce section and frozen food section are in the background.

Grocery stores--Chehalis; Cash registers; Supermarkets; Merchandise displays--Chehalis; Food--Chehalis; West Coast Grocery Co. (Tacoma);

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;