Beauty salon, Bon Marche. A large sign directs patrons to the beauty salon of the Bon Marche, now located on the second floor at the new Tacoma Mall Shopping Center. A long reception desk is clearly visible through the open doorway. The Bon' s beauty shop was equipped with modern hairdressing equipment and an experienced staff of fourteen operators. Crystal light fixtures and gold brocade wallpaper enhanced the atmosphere of the walnut and white room. (TNT 8-2-64, B-8)

Bon Marche (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1960-1970; Beauty shops--Tacoma--1960-1970; Signs (Notices);

On July 27, 1964, mannequins wearing the latest evening styles in taffeta and silk stood guard over the fabric department of the soon to open Bon Marche at the Tacoma Mall. The fabric department was located near the elevator on the Mall level of the 250,000 square foot, four story department store. Nearly 150,000 shoppers were on hand on August 3, 1964 for the grand opening ceremony. The Bon Marche was the first occupant of the Tacoma Mall; the rest of the shopping center did not officially open until October of 1965. (TNT 8-2-64, B-5)

Bon Marche (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1960-1970; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1960-1970; Textiles; Mannequins;

Olympia Day at the Bon Marche. A convoy of chartered buses transported Olympians to the newly opened Bon Marche at the Tacoma Mall on October 1, 1964. Although the Bon had a 6000-car parking lot, traveling by bus was just as convenient for out-of-towners. View of Harbor Lines buses parked outside of the Bon; one driver standing by open door. Apartments on the hillside next to the Bon are believed to be the 48-unit Alpine Village apartments, built on the northern boundary of the Tacoma Mall. Photograph ordered by the Bon Marche.

Bon Marche (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1960-1970; Shopping centers--Tacoma; Buses--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Cascade Room restaurant - Bon Marche. Sliding wood-paneled doors are partially opened to reveal a small lobby leading to the Cascade Room restaurant found within the Bon Marche. An assortment of modern furniture including black leather chairs can be glimpsed inside the restaurant which contain polished walnut paneled walls and brass wall sconces. A cocktail lounge and Corner House snack shop was included. Johnny Maddox would be the first performer in the Cascade Room Lounge once the Bon Marche opened at the Tacoma Mall Shopping Center in early August, 1964. Located on the lower level, direct entrance was also possible from the parking lot even when the rest of the store had closed. (TNT Ad 7-31-64, p. 21, TNT 8-2-64, B-6)

Bon Marche (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1960-1970; Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970; Signs (Notices); Sconces;

Grand opening - Florsheim Shoes in Tacoma Mall. Crowds of shoppers line up to browse and perhaps purchase the new merchandise at Florsheim Shoes on October 13, 1965. The store, part of a national chain of shoe stores, was celebrating its grand opening at the Mall. Customers appear pleased to accept coupons from the Florsheim employee in top hat, tails and tights while a parrot in a large gilded cage looks on. Florsheim's was located in close proximity to the Bon Marche department store. The Tacoma Mall store did not have doors and opened directly onto the mall. It featured a Gay Nineties barber shop; interiors were built of natural wood and wall-to-wall carpet. Photograph ordered by Florsheim Shoes, Chicago. TPL-2527 (TNT 10-12-65, C-14, C-15)

Florsheim Shoes (Tacoma); Shoe stores--Tacoma--1960-1970; Shopping centers--Tacoma; Shopping--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Interior of Tacoma Mall taken after the mall's grand opening. The Tacoma Mall officially opened on October 13, 1965. Looking down the wide aisles of the Tacoma Mall on October 14, 1965, towards the J.C. Penney store section are a variety of shops, most of which have vanished 40 years later. Alpine Hut, Foreman & Clark, Thom McAn, Hardy Shoes, Fashion Fabrics, Barbara Johnson and Toys Galore have their doors closed prior to opening for the business day. One or two customers are already present gazing through the shop windows. At that time there were no kiosks in the walkway. A full page ad for the opening of the mall trumpeted the idea of no more parking tickets, no more traffic or weather worries. A mere five minutes from downtown Tacoma, and easily accessible by car and bus, the mall would offer 7,000+ parking spaces and an enclosed shopping area. Photograph ordered by Nelson Construction. (TNT 9-9-65, ad, A-3)

Shopping centers--Tacoma; Tacoma Mall Shopping Center (Tacoma); Stores & shops--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Interior of Tacoma Mall. 30-foot umbrella columns form a stately forest supporting the structure of the new Tacoma Mall Shopping Center. Plexiglass skylights diffused light and eliminated shadows. Rock walls decorate the exterior of the Bon Marche department store which is visible on the left. The Bon's 110-foot colored glass sliding doors opened for the first time onto the mall on Wednesday, October 13, 1965. A curving staircase led from the Bon's basement level to the mall level. That staircase and the nearby fountain was later eliminated when remodeling. Florsheim Shoes was located directly across the Bon. Photograph ordered by Nelson Construction. (TNT 10-3-65, B-14, 10-12-65, D-2)

Shopping centers--Tacoma; Tacoma Mall Shopping Center (Tacoma); Stores & shops--Tacoma--1960-1970; Bon Marche (Tacoma); Florsheim Shoes (Tacoma); Columns--Tacoma;

Tacoma Mall on a misty December, 1967 day. One of the features of the shopping center that drew many to sample its wares was the abundance of free parking. No longer did the shopper have to pay to park outside of stores or to hunt for available parking. Hundreds of cars are parked steps away from the enclosed, climate-controlled, Tacoma Mall. The Bon Marche, pictured above, was the first occupant of the Tacoma Mall and opened in August, 1964, well before the rest of the mall was completed. An estimated 150,000 visited the store on the first day of business, causing massive traffic jams. Color photograph ordered by Bell & Stanton, New York City.

Bon Marche (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1960-1970; Shopping centers--Tacoma; Tacoma Mall Shopping Center (Tacoma); Parking lots--Tacoma--1960-1970; Automobiles--Tacoma--1960-1970;

1974 Tacoma Home Show. Visitors to the 28th edition of the Tacoma Home Show appear fascinated at the workings of the "Rug" Doctor as demonstrated in the Boedecker Co.'s exhibit booth. "Rug" Doctors were available at the home show by appointment only, for specified times and rates. They were a new brand of carpet cleaners and carpet cleaning products that were established in 1972. Color photograph ordered by Boedecker Co., Inc.

Greater Tacoma Home Show (Tacoma); Exhibit booths--Tacoma--1970-1980; Cleaning--Tacoma--1970-1980; Floor coverings; Signs (Notices);

Aerial view of Tacoma Mall Shopping Center and Tacoma Mall Office Building. This July, 1969, view of the popular Tacoma Mall Shopping Center and newly opened six-story Tacoma Mall Office Building shows that there is still much room for development of the center. New stores would be built on both sides of the Bon Marche (red building), first occupant of the mall. The dirt acreage bordering the parking lot would eventually become extended parking for the mall and the location of Frederick & Nelson's. The Post Office would build its Evergreen Station also on Pine Street, just beyond the left edge of the photograph. Color photograph ordered by Center Offices, Inc.

Aerial views; Tacoma Mall Shopping Center (Tacoma); Shopping centers--Tacoma; Tacoma Mall Office Building (Tacoma); Parking lots--Tacoma--1960-1970; Bon Marche (Tacoma);