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;