Flags gaily flapping in the wind welcomed shoppers to the J.C. Penney store in Lakewood's Villa Plaza Shopping Center. The large department store was the cornerstone of the block that included Weisfield's, Fashion Shoes, Woolworth's and Mode O' Day. Penney's joined the Rhodes Brothers Department Store at the Villa Plaza; both stores had their main stores in downtown Tacoma. Penney's had its grand opening on May 16, 1957, where the 33,000 square foot store became the first shopping center Penney's in the Northwest. It was also the first Penney's to have all sales departments on one floor; the upper level was for offices and staff rooms. Howard E. Haley was the Villa Plaza Penney's first manager; he had a staff of 60 local employees. Photograph ordered by Norman Iverson & Associates. (TNT 5-15-57, B-1, B-4) TPL-8317
J.C. Penney Co. (Lakewood); Department stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood);
Thriftway supermarket in the new Villa Plaza Shopping Center. Several Del Monte products on sale including six bottles of ketchup for $1.00, seven cans of canned corn for $1.00 and tomato sauce at 13 cans for $1.00. Thriftway advertised "Where Every Customer Is Important!" The Villa Thriftway, managed by Kenneth Gies, was a member of Associated Grocers. It had its own bakery and seafood market in addition to regular departments. Villa Plaza officials had planned a one-stop shopping designation for their Lakewood shopping center to include grocery, pharmacy, clothing, banking and automotive needs to attract the growing number of suburbanites. 50 acres of free parking proved a powerful lure for thousands of shoppers. (TNT 8-7-57, B8,9-alt. photograph)
Villa Thriftway Food Stores (Lakewood); Grocery stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Signs (Notices); Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;
A multitude of stores opened in the new Villa Plaza Shopping Center in the late spring-summer seasons in 1957. The W.T. Grant Co. store featured fall fashions for women and children in their storefront windows; signs indicate that the grand opening would be the evening of August 21, 1957. The 22,000 square foot supermodern store would be the 5th W.T. Grant store in Washington, and one of the 660 stores nationally. Charles W. West would be the first manager. Photograph ordered by the W.T. Grant Co. (TNT 7-31-57, A-9) TPL-9928
W.T. Grant Co. (Lakewood); Department stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);
ca. 1957. Brightly lit, spacious interior of the Fashion Shoes store in the new Villa Plaza Shopping Center. Besides shoes for the family, a wide selection of purses and socks was available for purchase. The Villa Plaza location was the second store site for Fashion Shoes who also maintained a store at 11th & Broadway in downtown Tacoma. Fashion Shoes was part of the Roe Brothers chain which had served shoe needs of West Coast families for over 25 years. The Villa Plaza store's first manager was Mr. M. Barnes. (TNT 5-15-57, A-7-article)
Fashion Shoes (Lakewood); Shoe stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;
ca. 1957. Fashion Shoes at the Villa Plaza Shopping Center. There were two locations of this family shoe store, one at Villa Plaza in Lakewood and the other in downtown Tacoma at 1128 Broadway. The Villa Plaza store, like most stores in the shopping center, had both a front and rear entrance. Fashion Shoes, part of the extensive Roe Brothers chain, opened on Thursday, May 16, 1957 with a three-day grand celebration. The chain was known for good quality shoes at very reasonable prices. Mr. M. Barnes was the Villa Plaza store's first manager. (TNT 5-15-57, A-7-article; TNT ad 7-7-57, D-8; TNT 8-7-57, B-13)
Fashion Shoes (Lakewood); Shoe stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;
Interior exposures--W.T.Grant store. The well-stocked W.T. Grant Co. department store appears nearly ready to greet its first customers in a July 29, 1957, photograph. Signs proclaiming Grant's to be "America's favorite family store" and "Get more, save more" are prolific throughout the store. Individual cash registers are located in the jewelry and other designated departments; in addition, there were check-out counters at each end of the store. Air conditioning and bright fluorescent lighting would make shopping comfortable. W.T. Grant Co. was located in Lakewood's new Villa Plaza Shopping Center. It was the fifth W.T.Grant store in Washington and one of 660 stores nationwide. William T. Grant opened his first store, a small one, in Lynn, Mass., in 1907; fifty years later, 22,000 supermodern department stores are the norm for Grant's. Photograph ordered by W.T. Grant Co. (TNT 7-31-57, A-9)
W.T. Grant Co. (Lakewood); Department stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Signs (Notices); Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood);
W.T. Grant Co. department store at the Villa Plaza Shopping Center. Grant's was the 22nd business to open in the Villa Plaza when it threw open its doors at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 1, 1957. The store was fully air-conditioned and featured fluorescent lighting. Family fashions, dry goods, home and hardware were all under one roof in the 22,000 square foot building. This was the fifth W.T. Grant Co. store in Washington state amongst nearly 600 stores nationwide. The business had grown from a small single store in Lynn, Mass., started by William T. Grant in 1907. Mr. Grant was still alive in 1957, age 81. (TNT 7-30-57, p. 2; TNT 7-31-57, A-9; TNT 8-7-57, D-2) TPL-10526
W.T. Grant Co. (Lakewood); Department stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;
Rowland Pontiac-Cadillac opened a used car center near their dealership on South Tacoma Way in July, 1957. Several late model vehicles are angle parked close to the building. Rowland Pontiac-Cadillac's dealership, owned and operated by Don Rowland, was formerly the location of Irwin-Jones Motor Co., dealers in Pontiacs and Dodges. View of used car lot and building; large signs inform drivers on busy South Tacoma Way of the company's phone number, address, and purpose of business. Photograph ordered by Rowland Pontiac-Cadillac.
Rowland Pontiac-Cadillac Used Car Center (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);
ca. 1957. Exterior of the National Bank of Washington located in the Villa Plaza Shopping Center. The bank sponsored an open house on July 13, 1957, at its new banking office located in the north wing of the Lakewood shopping center. It was one of eight Tacoma area offices. The one-story building was 50-feet wide, 104-feet deep and totaled 5,200 square feet. The exterior was constructed of mottled blue ceramic tile with large areas of plate glass. The facility was designed by Lea, Pearson & Richards and built by general contractor Merritt Construction. Six teller units, a conference room and officers quarters were located on the east side lobby. There was a modern vault in the rear. The Villa Plaza-Lakewood branch of the National Bank of Washington had as its first manager Marc H. Miller. (TNT 7-11-57, A-6-article & alt. photograph; A-7 full page ad)
National Bank of Washington (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Electric signs--Lakewood; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960; Facades--Lakewood--1950-1960;
Just past the men's suits was the Forewyn Shop for Women located inside Foreman & Clark at the Villa Plaza. The latest fashions in suits, dresses, blouses and skirts could be found for the discerning shopper. While Foreman & Clark did not manufacture the women's clothing itself, as it did men and boys clothing, they made sure that the manufacturers chosen were worthy of the Forewyn name.
Foreman & Clark (Lakewood); Clothing stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;
Large selection of men's suits at the new Foreman & Clark's clothing store in Lakewood's Villa Plaza Shopping Center. Foreman & Clark celebrated its grand opening with three days full of bargains on June 6-8, 1957. Men could purchase a 100% wool suit for only $39.90 and pick up a toggle car coat for $12.88. The firm manufactured its own men's and boys' clothing with men's sizes ranging from 34-50. Among the newest of 90 stores from coast-to-coast, the Villa Plaza location followed store policy of low rental expense and inexpensive fixtures so that quality merchandise could be manufactured while keeping costs low for shoppers. The Villa Plaza store was managed by Hal Miller who along with Byron W. Foreman, nephew of store founder W.A. Foreman and Walter Scott, regional manager, were present for the grand opening celebration. (TNT 6-5-57, A-6-article)
Foreman & Clark (Lakewood); Clothing stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Lakewood--1950-1960; Suits (Clothing); Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;
National clothiers Foreman & Clark opened up the latest in their 90 chain stores in the Villa Plaza Shopping Center on June 6, 1957. They were well-known for their fine quality men's, women's and children's line of clothing. Foreman & Clark's was established in Los Angeles in 1909 by W.A. Foreman. His policy of upstairs stores, low rental costs and inexpensive fixtures resulted in savings passed on to his customers in the form of quality merchandise at low prices. The Foreman & Clark chain ran from New York to California and then up to the Pacific Northwest. The Villa Plaza store had a prime location next to Rhodes Department Store. It was run by Hal Miller. This is probably the rear view of the store, taken on June 17, 1957. For another view, probably of the front, see A107266-1. Sepia photograph ordered by Walter Scott, Foreman & Clark. (TNT 6-5-57, A-6)
Foreman & Clark (Lakewood); Clothing stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Signs (Notices); Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood);
Foreman & Clark clothing store at the new Villa Plaza Shopping Center. Foreman & Clark took out a full page ad in the News Tribune on June 5, 1957, proclaiming the "West's largest clothier coming to Tacoma." The chain, established in 1909 in Los Angeles by W.A. Foreman, had 90 stores from coast-to-coast. It celebrated a three-day grand opening on June 6-8, 1957, at the Villa Plaza Shopping Center. Foreman & Clark's manufactured its own men's and boys' clothing to keep prices low while offering the public well made articles of clothing. (TNT 6-5-57, A-7-article & ad)
Foreman & Clark (Lakewood); Clothing stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Window displays--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;
Interior- savings & loan. The expansive, brightly-lit lobby of the new Tacoma Savings & Loan was photographed on June 28, 1957, prior to its grand opening. After many years in the Bowes Building directly across the street, the savings & loan built an ultra-modern glass paneled new establishment. The spacious first floor included the customer service area, insurance department, department heads' offices, safe-deposit vault, and a separate lobby for safe-deposit customers. The building featured a free-standing reinforced concrete circular staircase which led from the basement to the mezzanine level. An elevator was also provided. Supporting columns were covered with Italian Cremo marble. Walls adjacent to the elevator shaft were covered with Breche Fantasia marble. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Savings & Loan Association. (TNT 6-27-57, A-6-9)
Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;
Exterior- savings & loan. A close-up view of the Tacoma Savings & Loan Association front entrance was taken on June 27, 1957. Insulated glass panels surround the new building, including the front entrance. The main entrance doors were electronically operated. New trees have been planted, spaced carefully apart, to provide a touch of softness when contrasted with the modern sleek appearance of the financial institution. The Tacoma Savings & Loan was established in 1899. They urged customers to save, in order to "write your own future". Home loans were tailored to fit customers' individual needs. The new location of the downtown Tacoma Savings & Loan was directly across the street from its former headquarters in the Bowes Building. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Savings & Loan Association. (TNT 6-27-57, A-6-9)
Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Signs (Notices);
Exterior-savings & loan building. Looking directly across 9th St., possibly from the former headquarters of the Tacoma Savings & Loan Association, the new location for the savings & loan comes into view. The rectangular building is primarily glass encased, glass on three sides which cantilever out from the inside columns and are suspended from the roof. Designed by architects Lea, Pearson & Richards, and built by Ketner Brothers, contractors, it has extruded aluminum and insulating glass with black granite trim and blue Spandrelite glass panels. The glass panels are 6 feet by 10 feet. Fiberglass draperies measuring 22 feet are designed to cover the glass areas. The Tacoma Savings & Loan was established in 1899, making it one of the city's oldest financial institutions. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Savings & Loan Association. (TNT 6-27-57, A-6-9)
Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Facades--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Exterior- savings & loan building. The sleek new Tacoma Savings & Loan Association building on South 9th and A Street is ready to be opened in late June, 1957. It is directly across the street from its former headquarters in the Bowes Building. The ulta-modern glass-encased building was designed by architects Lea, Pearson & Richards, who were responsible for many notable buildings in Tacoma. The steel framed construction would total 95 feet by 75 feet. View of contrasting "old" and "new" Tacoma Savings & Loan Association bank buildings. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Savings & Loan Association. (TNT 6-27-57, A-6-9)
Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;
Rows and towers of safe-deposit units greet customers of Pacific First Federal Savings in June, 1957. Each box is numbered and two keys would be necessary to open each individual box, much as is done in 2002. Carpeted floors would muffle the tread of many footsteps. Pacific First Federal Savings was located at the corner of 11th and Pacific in downtown Tacoma. The Romanesque-style building was constructed in 1891 as the home of Merchants National Bank. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound Office Equipment.
Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Safe-deposit boxes--Tacoma;
American flags flank the marbled entrance to Pacific First Federal Savings on Flag Day, 1957. Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association was a mutual savings institution with branches in Bellingham, Seattle, Tacoma, Longview, Portland and Eugene. It served over 57, 000 families with $170 million in resources. Tacoma was its home office, established in 1907. Gerrit VanderEnde was the longtime president of the savings & loan.
Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Flags; Doors & doorways--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pacific First Federal Building (Tacoma);
Exterior of Pacific First Federal Savings Building. The large revolving corner clock indicates that it is 11:50 a.m. and the Pacific First Federal Savings Building is open for business. Plaques on the marbled foundation indicate that the bank offered a safe deposit vault for protection of valuables as well as insuring customers' savings and issuing home loans. Situated in the downtown business district of 11th & Pacific, the venerable building had been a local presence since 1891. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound Office Equipment.
Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Pacific First Federal Building (Tacoma);
The Villa Plaza Shopping Center, built on the grounds of the former 200-acre Visitation Villa, saw the opening of many new stores in the spring of 1957. Foreman & Clark, who specialized in fine men, women, and children's clothing, was one of the latest to celebrate its grand opening in early June, 1957. Besides offering clothing specials, bonus gifts for the family were also awarded. Credit was readily available with deferred payment until August. Foreman & Clark was a top clothing retailer with 90 stores coast-to-coast. The first Foreman & Clark store was opened in Los Angeles in 1909. It quickly built a reputation for excellent quality in its clothing line. Hal Miller would be the new Villa Plaza store manager. View of entrance to Foreman & Clark, with large store lettering, and overhanging roof. Photograph ordered by Foreman & Clark. (TNT 6-5-57, A-6)
Foreman & Clark (Lakewood); Clothing stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);
With its back hatch open, eggs are being removed from the appropriately egg shaped delivery van of the Washington Cooperative Farmers Association in January of 1941. The shipment of eggs were being delivered to the Safeway store at the corner of Sixth and Proctor. Names of the individuals above were not provided. TPL-3191
Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Poultry industry--Washington--1940-1950; Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma);
The manager of the Safeway store at Sixth and Proctor takes delivery of a shipment of eggs from the Washington Co-op Farmers Association. The "Co-op Eggs" were delivered by an egg shaped delivery van.
Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Poultry industry--Washington--1940-1950; Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma);
Washington Co-op Farmers Association "Co-op Eggs" egg shaped delivery van parked in front of the Safeway Store at Sixth and Proctor. The delivery truck was not only eye catching but also aerodynamic.
Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Poultry industry--Washington--1940-1950; Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma);
Exterior- bank building. North Pacific Bank had been at the same location on South Tacoma Way since 1914. Designed by architects Lundberg & Mahon, the brick building also housed the South Tacoma Post Office for a while. Clarence W. Wallerich was listed as president of the one-branch bank according to the 1957 City Directory. General banking and safe deposit vaults were offered by North Pacific which had capital, surplus, reserves and undivided profits over $900,000,000. North Pacific Bank was purchased in November, 1998, by Heritage Bank. Photograph ordered by North Pacific Bank.
North Pacific Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;
