Tacoma Mayor Gordon N. Johnston welcomes shoppers to the new addition of the Tacoma Mall on July 25, 1973. The Mall had completed its west end expansion and 20 new stores were now open for business, including Ben Bridge Jeweler, Orange Julius, Tinder Box and Waldenbooks. This would bring the total number of stores in the Mall to about 110, just slightly smaller than Southcenter. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma Mall Corporation.

Johnston, Gordon N.; Mayors--Tacoma--1970-1980; Public speaking--Tacoma; Tacoma Mall Shopping Center (Tacoma); Shopping centers--Tacoma--1970-1980; Dedications--Tacoma--1970-1980; Building dedications--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Snip! Governor Albert Rosellini and Angela Nicholson, Miss Tacoma, cut the bright yellow ribbon for the new Tacoma Mall Bon Marche store on August 3, 1964. The Bon Marche was the first store to open in the new mall; the mall didn't have its official opening until October, 1965. The new Bon Marche was a massive four-story building with 256,000 square feet. The closing of the store's longtime downtown location was deemed necessary because of the antiquated conditions of the building and the lack of suitable parking. The downtown store, formerly the Fisher's Department Store, closed at 5:30 p.m. on July 25, 1964. Dignitaries present at the ribbon cutting included Dr. Arnold Herrmann, deputy mayor, David Rowlands, city manager, county commissioners Harry Sprinker, Fritz Geiger and Pat Gallagher, and city councilmen Maurice Finnigan and Hal Murtland, and Darrel E. Vannice, managing director of the Bon. (TNT 7-19-64, p. 1, TNT 8-4-64, p. 18) ALBUM 10.

Governors; Rosellini, Albert D.; Nicholson, Angela; Bon Marche (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1960-1970; Shopping centers--Tacoma; Dedications--Tacoma--1960-1970; Vannice, Darrel E.;

Governor Albert D. Rosellini and Miss Tacoma, Angela Nicholson, cut the ribbon for the new Tacoma Mall Bon Marche store. The governor and assorted dignitaries, including Bon Marche managing director Darrel E. Vannice, are facing the new store. A crowd of eager shoppers look poised to storm the doors of the Bon Marche which had moved its presence from its longtime downtown location. An estimated 150,000 people visited the store on its first day of business, causing massive traffic jams. The four-story 256,000 square foot store would be the largest department store in Pierce County. The closure of the downtown store at 11th & Broadway was necessary because of the antiquated building and fixtures and the shortage of parking. J.C. Penney's and Thriftway supermarkets had already signed leases for the new shopping center which would open officially in October, 1965, with an additional 53 stores and 900,000 square feet of selling space. ALBUM 10. TPL-454 (TNT 7-19-64, p. 1, TNT 8-4-64, p. 18)

Governors; Rosellini, Albert D.; Nicholson, Angela; Bon Marche (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1960-1970; Shopping centers--Tacoma; Dedications--Tacoma--1960-1970; Vannice, Darrel E.;