Interior of new Tradewell store. Self-service ice cream freezers were becoming more available to the Tacoma shopper in 1953; these three freezers are compactly located at the ends of the store's aisles. The wide shopping aisles also made it easier for shoppers to push their carts through. The shelves are full of seafood cans, jars of prepared baby food, and juices. Tradewell also had a self-service meat department where meats were already pre-packaged for the busy shopper. Photograph ordered by Tradewell, Inc., Seattle.

Tradewell Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Supermarkets; Freezers; Ice cream & ices;

The new South 56th and Pacific Tradewell supermarket carried a wide variety of coffees in 1953. A coffee aficionado could either grind his own coffee beans, with a machine provided by the store, or buy a pre-packaged, already ground can. View of long row of coffees includes Folgers, Chase and Sanborn, Postum and Tradewell's own brands. Photograph ordered by Tradewell, Inc., Seattle.

Tradewell Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Supermarkets; Coffee--Tacoma; Grinding machines;

At 10:15 p.m. the new Tradewell supermarket at South 56th and Pacific Avenue is closed for the day. Six cigarette stands are placed before the checkout aisles; popular brands of Pall Mall , Kool, Philip Morris and Camel are readily available for the Tacoma shopper. The SpeeDee automated checkout lines resemble their 2001 counterparts, including rubber "sticks" to separate shoppers' groceries. Photograph ordered by Tradewell, Inc., Seattle.

Tradewell Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Supermarkets; Cigarettes; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Tradewell opened another new supermarket in Tacoma in 1953; the 56th and Pacific Tradewell celebrated its grand opening in early February, 1953. Ample parking was provided for customers at this busy Southend location. Van de Kamps Bakery was also a part of the supermarket. W.A. Bolduc was the store manager; the modern Roman brick structure had been designed by Skoog Architects of Seattle and built by Bona Fide Construction Co. of Tacoma. It contained 11,000 square feet of sales place. A sampling of signs indicated that 2 lbs. of coffee could be purchased for $1.49, salad dressing for 29 cents and delicious pot roast for 39 cents a pound. Photograph ordered by Tradewell, Inc., Seattle. (TNT 2-3-53, p. 4-5)

Tradewell Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Supermarkets; Signs (Notices);

Meat department manager, Mel Ingram, grasps a hanging portion of U.S.Choice beef at the new 56th and Pacific Tradewell store. The beef was hung on meat hooks in the store's coolers. Tradewell had recently opened their latest Tacoma supermarket in the city's southend. They had a self-service meat department where meat was already pre-packaged for the busy customer. Ingram was in charge of the meat department; he had been in the meat business for nineteen years and had recently specialized in self-service meats at the Lakewood Center Tradewell. Photograph ordered by Mr. Swanson, Tradewell, Inc., Seattle. (TNT 2-3-53, p. 7)

Tradewell Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Supermarkets; Meat; Ingram, Mel;

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;