Sears Roebuck and Company Department Store, Housewares Department. Dishes and glassware in front with pots and pans next to them. Paint Department beyond.

Business Enterprises - Department Stores - Tacoma - Sears Roebuck and Company Equipment - Cooking Utensils, Tableware

Sears Roebuck and Company Department Store, Sporting Goods Department. Luggage on left, bicycles on right, table of hats, balls and bats. Back wall has rifles, tennis racquets, and fishing poles.

Business Enterprises - Department Stores - Tacoma - Sears Roebuck and Company Equipment - Sporting Goods

The Lakewood Country Store purchased several full page ads welcoming customers to their new location on Mount Tacoma Dr. in the newly expanded Lakewood Community Center. Headlines proclaiming the Lakewood Country Store as the "Northwest's newest and most unusual department store" ran in November, 1951, newspapers. The Country Store, owned by Ed Stevens, carried such varied items as hardware, notions, paints and women's clothing. View of notions department with napkins, imported towels, non-shrink yarns on display. The old cracker barrel and supply of cheese, a favorite of adults and children alike, would also remain in the new store. Artist Connie Brady's murals also decorated the store; her mural of an old country store is placed directly over a display of brooms and mops. (TNT 11-14-51, C-2,3)

Department stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Stores & shops--Lakewood--1950-1960; Lakewood Country Store (Lakewood); Yarn; Towels; Murals--Lakewood;

Lakewood Country Store, Hardware Department. Four counters containing hardware items, paint against wall, tools in the back. Photograph taken in November of 1951.

Lakewood Country Store (Lakewood); Stores & shops--Lakewood; Department stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Hardware;

The Lakewood Country Store, located in the Lakewood Community Center, was a unique department store of the early 50's; it managed to keep up-to-date inventory in its many departments while keeping the country ambience of the past. A customer could purchase anything from fine gifts to thimbles to hunting supplies at the Lakewood Country Store. View of the Ladies and Sportswear departments; Van Raalte nylon lingerie was listed on sale in newspaper ads at $8.95 for nighties and $6.95 for slips. Stockings, Belle-Sharmeer brand, could be purchased from $1.35 to $1.95 a pair. Graff man-tailored jackets were selling for $12.95 a piece. One-stop shopping, including a stop at the cracker barrel and cheese display, was made convenient for suburban shoppers. (TNT 11-14-51, C-2, C-3-5)

Department stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Stores & shops--Lakewood--1950-1960; Lakewood Country Store (Lakewood); Lingerie; Underwear; Sport Clothes;

Lakewood Country Store, Gift Department. Tables and walls filled with glassware, games, and other gifts on display in mid-November of 1951. The Lakewood Country Store was located in the Lakewood Community Center which had recently expanded.

Lakewood Country Store (Lakewood); Department stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Stores & shops--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Built in 1895 at the corner of South 11th Street and Pacific Avenue, the Peoples building was originally planned for three stories, but lower than expected costs allowed for a four story building. Peoples closed in 1983. The building was remodeled and renamed Puget Sound Plaza in 1985 and served as offices for Puget Sound National Bank's trust department, private banking, commercial lending, international department and several bank operations divisions. Several smaller retail spaces were available on the lower level. Starbuck's Coffee opened a franchise in the corner location in the early 1990's.

Peoples (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Business districts--Tacoma;

This view shows the shaft built for the escalator being installed inside Fisher's department store. Steel beams have been added to suppport the structure and plywood has been used to cover the exterior of the shaft.

Department stores--Tacoma; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Escalators--Tacoma;

Four-table blouse display at J.C. Penney's. Blouses for $1.98 to celebrate Penney's department store birthday party. Tacoma had two J.C. Penney stores located at 1114 Broadway and 5424 South Tacoma Way. The company had been built by James C. Penney from a $500 investment fifty years earlier into one of the largest nation-wide chains of retail stores with 1,630 outlets. (TNT, 9/4/1952, p.11)

Department stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; J.C. Penney Co. (Tacoma); Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Peoples Department Store, display of mattresses and bed springs. Area rugs are hung from racks on the level above. A sign announces bargains on used furniture.

Peoples (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma;

Peoples Department Store, Women's wear department. Dresses hang from racks, while sweaters are folded neatly on display tables.

Peoples (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma;

Peoples Department Store, Millinery Department. The large department exudes elegance with 2-3 hats displayed per merchandise counter.

Peoples (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma; Hats--1930-1940;

Peoples Department Store, Cosmetic, Perfume and Toiletries Department.

Peoples (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma;

Peoples Department Store Building, Carl August Darmer, Architect, 1895. Photograph of store front with scaffolding and steam cleaner, circa May of 1938. Sign reads "This building is being steamed cleaned by Universal Cleaning Contractors." For Ocky Williams, Universal Cleaning Contractors. The structure was built for and occupied by the Peoples Store from 1895-1983 when the store closed its doors. It is now the Puget Sound Plaza. (filed with Argentum)

Department stores--Tacoma--1930-1940; Peoples (Tacoma); Cleaning--Tacoma; Scaffolding--Tacoma;

Peoples Department Store Building, Carl August Darmer, Architect, 1895. Photograph of front and side of Peoples Store with man on scaffolding near top corner of store, circa May of 1938. The exterior of the store was being steam cleaned by Universal Cleaning Contractors. The building was occupied by the Peoples Store from 1895-1983. For Ocky Williams, Universal Cleaning Contractors. (filed with Argentum)

Department stores--Tacoma--1930-1940; Peoples (Tacoma); Cleaning--Tacoma; Scaffolding--Tacoma;

An "under the sea" display of watches at Weisfield's, Inc. The theme was no doubt inspired by the Benrus "waterproof" watches, which were being offered with a free thirty day home trial, twice the usual trade in, no money down and terms as low as a $1.00 per week. Benrus claimed that their watch was the only true waterproof in the five leading name brands. The watches came in nine different models for women and nine for men.

Department stores--Tacoma; Window displays; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Weisfield's, Inc. (Tacoma); Clocks & watches; Jewelry stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Weisfield's window in July of 1953 featured a free Barwa leisure chair with a Westinghouse laundromat and dryer. The washing machine, and free lounge chair, are $299.95. The D-5 dryer and free chair are $219.95. Plus consumers could take advantage of Weisfield's low easy credit terms. Unlike in the past when consumers bought items cash only, credit was relied upon more often for major purchases.

Department stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Window displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Home furnishings stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Weisfield's, Inc. (Tacoma); Washing machines; Appliances--1950-1960; Chairs;

Night exposure of the Lakewood Country Store's pet, patio and garden shop. The shop opened in the former temporary quarters of the Lakewood Puget Sound Bank, across the parking lot from the main store. The store billed itself as an old fashioned country store and the Northwest's most unusual department store. It carried a broad mix of merchandise, a forerunner to today's bargain superstores. To the left of the photo is the pet and patio section, to the right is the garden section. The barn doors are open to the garden section and a rolling cart of plants has been tucked inside. Gardening tools can be seen hanging from the walls through the center windows. The Manager of the new store was Kenneth Wade, a graduate agronomist from the University of Idaho with 10 years of experience with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (TNT 3/4/1954, pg. A-12)

Lakewood Country Store (Lakewood); Department stores--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Night exposure of Weisfield's Inc. General Electric window, including the free 15 day home trial of small appliances. Weisfield's customers could "try it, then buy it" and on easy credit terms too. Pictured are clocks, clock radios, mixers, toasters, irons, electric frying pans and electric blankets. Window display does not say what the store did with any returned appliances.

Department stores--Tacoma; Window displays; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Weisfield's, Inc. (Tacoma); Appliances;

This photograph shows the massive multi-storied Bon Marche downtown store, at 1104 Broadway, as it appeared in 1955. The upper portion of the facade included brick and Tenino sandstone and marble facing with metal canopy on the lower section. The structure was built in 1905 by the Cornell Brothers, contractors, for the Fisher Department Store and had been designed by architect Frederick Heath. Fishers underwent a name change in 1952 and emerged as the Bon Marche, part of a chain of stores owned by Allied Stores. The Bon Marche remained in its downtown location until July, 1964, when it moved to the Tacoma Mall. The building remained empty for a while as renovations took place until Rainier Bank moved in during 1980. It is now home to Columbia Bank. Photograph ordered by Bon Marche. (Kipp: Tacoma Redivia, p. 67) TPL-9349

Bon Marche (Tacoma); Fishers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Facades--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Bankruptcy sale. Merchandise from Stanley's Department Store, listed in the 1927 City Directory as 5241 South Union (now called South Tacoma Way), was moved across the street to 5244 South Union for a bankruptcy sale in October of 1927. The store had been operated by Stanley Gornicki. Shoppers were informed that it was a "genuine bankrupt sale" and the store was "sold by order of the court!" Items were clearly marked with sale prices. The L.O. Borish Co. department store had opened in Stanley's old location on October 8th. The building had been remodeled and refinished in stucco and a tile roof. Photograph ordered by the Better Business Bureau. G56.1-103; BU-13,853 (TNT 10-5-27, p. 6-article on Borish Department Store) TPL-10443

Stanley's Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1920-1930; Signs (Notices);

Shoppers swarmed the McCormack Bros. department store on February 7, 1932, in hopes of capturing great bargains as the store had just settled with its creditors for 20 cents on the dollar. McCormack Bros. had been in downtown Tacoma for many years and had closed the previous December. It reopened on February 5, 1932, under the name of McCormack's, Inc. The McCormack family was still in control of the business with James McCormack as president and his three sons as associates. (TDL 2-4-32, p. 3-article)

McCormack Bros. Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1930-1940; Shopping--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Crowds, described in a Daily Ledger ad as being the "greatest in the history of Tacoma's home owned and operated popular department store," lined up outside the big McCormack Bros. department store, 1148 Broadway, on February 7, 1932. The store had just reopened two days before, refinanced and reorganized. The new name was McCormack's, Inc., but it was still run by James McCormack and his family. Creditors had settled for 20 cents on the dollar and there were new goods added to every department. Men's suits were as low as $9.75, electric toasters for only 98 cents, spring dresses at $4.79 and even a Limonges dinnerware set for $5.95. In 1936, this building would be remodeled for the Sears, Roebuck & Co. store. (TDL 2-4-32, p. 3-article; TDL Ad, 2-7-32, A-5)

McCormack Bros. Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1930-1940; Shopping--Tacoma--1930-1940;

On May 28, 1921, a long line of cars was photographed in front of People's department store, 1101-07 Pacific Ave, and extending down the street past the Bankers Trust Building and nearly to the Puget Sound Bank building. Each car has a sign in its windshield that says, "People's Store - Tacoma - Motor Club."

Peoples (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1920-1930; Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Fisher's Department Store, 1104 Broadway. Photograph of crowd several feet deep outside Fisher's store in June of 1931. Vaudeville act in window. Girls in costume, with trumpets, stand on store marquee. Photo for Fox Broadway Theater Bowen # 310-2406

Ribbon cutting ceremonies at the new J.C. Penney's store in the Villa Plaza Shopping Center. Store and Plaza officials look on as Miss Tacoma, Connie Mernaugh, does the honors. For this big event, she became "Miss Penney's of the Villa Plaza." From left to right are: Eldon J. Kahny, Villa Plaza Penney's assistant mgr.; O.M. Robinson, Penney's district mgr.; Howard E. Haley, Villa Plaza Penney's mgr.; Miss Mernaugh; Lowell H. Paup, South Tacoma Penney's mgr.; E.J. Zarelli, Villa Plaza Development Co. and Lysle G. Paterson, downtown Penney's mgr. Additional Penney's staff are in the background. Penney's anchored one block of the shopping center; its 33,000 square foot store was the first shopping center Penney's in the Northwest. It was also the first Penney's to have all public business conducted on one floor. (TNT 5-15-57, B-4-assorted articles & alt. photographs)

J.C. Penney Co. (Lakewood); Building dedications--Lakewood--1950-1960; Department stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Mernaugh, Connie; Haley, Howard; Paup, Lowell; Paterson, Lysle; Zarelli, E.J.;

Eager shoppers gather at the entrance of the new J.C. Penney store in the Villa Plaza Shopping Center for the grand opening ceremonies on May 16, 1957. They were prepared to charge forth into the store after the ribbon was snipped and the ceremonies concluded. Villa Plaza Penney's new manager, Howard E. Haley, is at the microphone addressing the crowd with Miss Tacoma, Connie Mernaugh, at his side. Miss Mernaugh would have the honor of snipping the red ribbon, officially opening the store. Store and Plaza officials in line were (left to right): Asst. store mgr. Eldon Kahny, District mgr. O.M. Robinson, Mr. Haley, E.J. Zarelli of the Villa Plaza Development Co., and downtown Penney's mgr. Lysle Paterson. The Villa Plaza Penney's was the third in the area after the downtown and South Tacoma locations. The 33,000 sq.foot building had offices and staff rooms upstairs and all sales departments on the main floor. It was the first J.C. Penney store in the Northwest to have all sales areas on one floor and also the first "shopping center" Penney's in the Northwest. The west-facing grand entrance shown above was on Gravelly Lake Dr. S.W. (TNT 5-15-57, B-4-assorted articles & alt. photographs)

J.C. Penney Co. (Lakewood); Department stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Building dedications--Lakewood--1950-1960; Shopping--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Mernaugh, Connie; Haley, Howard; Zarelli, E.J.; Paterson, Lysle;

Retail employees show a dress to two customers at the Bremerton Sears store. The store had recently opened. Sears closed their doors at this location in 1985, when they moved to the Kitsap Mall in Silverdale. The building remained vacant until 2003, when the Bremerton Calvary Chapel opened a daycare at this location. (information supplied by an interested party)

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Bremerton); Merchandise displays; Department stores--Bremerton;

Parking lot at the Bremerton Sears store, 252 Fourth St., as viewed from Fifth Street. The Bremerton Sears opened in 1940 and closed in 1985, when it relocated to the Kitsap Mall in Silverdale. (information supplied by interested party)

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Bremerton); Department stores--Bremerton; Parking lots--Bremerton; Automobiles--Bremerton--1940-1950;

On September 24, 1941, two unidentified young girls were photographed with three dogs at the Sears Roebuck store, 1148 Broadway, to help promote National Dog Week. The girl at the left held a beagle pup; the one at the right, a cocker spaniel. Between them, sitting on the counter, was a grown cocker spaniel. National Dog Week was founded in 1928 by Captain Will Judy, a noted judge and former publisher of Dog World Magazine, to promote dog ownership and better dog care. (T. Times)

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Dogs;