ca. 1932. Roberts Bros.Grocers Number 4 delivery truck accident, circa 1932. Front end sitting by front porch of house with rear end on roadway above. (filed with Argentum)

Roberts Bros. Grocery (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Traffic accidents--Tacoma--1930-1940;

This photograph from March 1932 shows four unidentified empoyees in one of the Piggly Wiggly grocery stores in Puyallup. This store was under the management of Mr. Pinckney. Going through a wooden turn-style, a shopper could find bargains such as Max-i-mum coffee at 37cents per lb. and apples at 63 cents a box.

Grocery stores--Puyallup--1930-1940; Piggly Wiggly (Puyallup);

ca. 1933. Covack Brothers Grocery, window display. Fresh vegetables stacked in store window, fresh citrus along wall. Bottles and jars on shelves, scale on counter. The store was owned and operated by brothers Frank and Joseph Covack. For West Coast Grocery Company. (WSHS)

Covack Brothers Grocery (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1934. Interior of a Franklin Food Store, circa 1934. The 1934 City Directory lists Franklin Food Stores at 121 No. G St., 602 So. 38th and the Crystal Palace Public Market. View from above shoppers in the grocery store. Long lines wait patiently for the checker. (filed with Argentum)

Franklin Food Stores (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1927. Mrs. Ethel A. Adams posed in her new Whippet 4 coupe in front of the West Side Grocery Co., circa 1927. The new two passenger closed model of the Whippet Line was becoming very popular. Mrs. Adams had purchased hers from Manley Motor Co., Overland and Willys-Knight dealer. She had also recently purchased the West Side Grocery store at 608 No. Pine. (WSHS) (TDL 2/20/1927, pg. 4G)

West Side Grocery Co. (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Adams, Ethel; Whippet automobiles;

ca. 1926. Interior of Grocery Store. Fresh meat cases, scale, beverage case, packaged foods on shelves. Sign on wall: "Cash - Please Do Not Ask For Credit." (filed with Argentum)

Grocery stores--1920-1930;

ca. 1926. Grocery Store interior. Canned, bottled and packaged foods on shelves, bulk food case, coffee grinder, scale, cash register. (filed with Argentum)

Grocery stores--1920-1930;

ca. 1926. Hollywood Market and Grocery, circa 1926. The market was located on a rural route on Lincoln Ave. Small stucco building with crenelated cornice on corner lot. Auburn Ice Cream signboard on sidewalk. (filed with Argentum)

Grocery stores--1920-1930; Hollywood Market (Tacoma);

A display of Nalley's potato chips at the Big Bear Store. Potato chips were Marcus Nalley's first product, prepared in his own small kitchen, fried in cooking oil, and packed in paper bags. "This is only the beginning" was his favorite comment during the 1930's and it was certainly true. This rack includes two sizes, 25 cent and 39 cent, of the regional favorite potato chips. Krun-chees and pop corn were 10 cents a bag. Bags of Ruffles Potato Chips hang along the left hand side. Hanging in the middle of the display is a copy of an ad that ran in Sunset magazine. (South on the Sound, Murray and Rosa Morgan)

Big Bear Stores (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Nalley's, Inc. (Tacoma)--Products; Food--Tacoma--1950-1960; Food industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Fixture displays at Sib's Thriftway, 1215 So. Union Ave., showing personal care products as of March 1, 1951. Products are Dr. Lyon's Tooth Powder, Rayve Wave Home permanent wave cream, Veto and Mum deodorants, Mennen skin bracer, and Jergens and Woodbury skin creams. The grocery store was owned by Sib L. Carstensen.

Sib's Thriftway (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Toiletries; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Employees of the Thomas Bros. Foodliner store stand behind the meat counter prior to the grand opening of their University Place supermarket in September, 1951. Self-service meats were one of the many new conveniences at the Red & White Food Store; a customer could easily choose from a variety of pre-packaged meats without waiting for a butcher. Their full page ads on September 12th indicated that sliced bacon was available for 59 cents a pound and pork chops for 75 cents. Other new conveniences were refrigerated produce, high-speed conveyor checkstands and automatic doors. The Frank Thomas, Sr., family had opened their small grocery store 46 years ago at the corner of what was then Regents park and Western road. The Thomas brothers, Al, Frank and Joe, grew up helping to run the family store. The new store, built at nearly the same location of W. 27th and Grandview, has maintained its affiliation with the Red & White Food chain. Photograph ordered by Consolidated Service, Seattle. (TNT 9-12-51, A-6, A-10, A-11) TPL-8774

Thomas Bros. Foodliner (University Place); Grocery stores--University Place--1950-1960; Merchandise displays; Food--University Place--1950-1960;

No. Stevens, looking north at the intersection of No. 26th St. On the right is the Hilltop Market at 2517 No. Stevens. On the left is Pop's Service Station at 2601 No. Stevens. Safeway stores ordered these pictures. The City Council would be hearing their application to erect a store at 26th and Stevens on January 4, 1954. The application had been turned down by the City Planning Commission. The hearing was viewed by an overflowing crowd. The main argument against rezoning this area for the erection of a $525,000 Safeway store was the resulting increased traffic. Residents felt that increasing the already heavy flow of traffic would endanger neighborhood children. Safeway argued that traffic was already bad & their off street parking would make the situation better. The supermarket chain also felt that the Planning Commission was protecting the smaller businesses. (TNT 1/5/1954, pg.1) TPL-9908

Hilltop Market (Tacoma); Pop's Service Stations (Tacoma); Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery Stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;

No. 26th St., looking west to the intersection of No. Stevens St. A school bus is turning next to the Hilltop Market at 2517 No. Stevens. Safeway stores ordered these pictures. The City Council was hearing an application from Safeway to erect a $525,000 supermarket at 26th and Stevens. The City Planning Commission had already turned down the application citing the dangers of increased traffic and opposition of the area's residents. The hearing was jammed to overflowing with spectators. Both sides argued their point and the hearing was adjourned without a resolution. (TNT 12/8/1953)

Hilltop Market (Tacoma); Residential streets--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Interior of new Tradewell store. Self-service ice cream freezers were becoming more available to the Tacoma shopper in 1953; these three freezers are compactly located at the ends of the store's aisles. The wide shopping aisles also made it easier for shoppers to push their carts through. The shelves are full of seafood cans, jars of prepared baby food, and juices. Tradewell also had a self-service meat department where meats were already pre-packaged for the busy shopper. Photograph ordered by Tradewell, Inc., Seattle.

Tradewell Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Supermarkets; Freezers; Ice cream & ices;

Both cars and bicycles are parked outside the new Tradewell supermarket on South 56th and Pacific in February, 1953. As the signs posted on the wall indicated, Tradewell offered free parking for customers. The store was open seven days a week, with shorter hours on Sunday, and stayed open until 11 p.m. on Friday night. Specials changed frequently at Tradewell; a customer could purchase fresh red snapper at 29 cents a pound or giant size detergent Duz or Cheer at 65 cents. Photograph ordered by Washington Mutual Savings Bank.

Tradewell Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Supermarkets; Parking lots--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Safeway store fire at 82nd & Pacific. The Safeway store sustained $260,000 in fire damage during an early morning fire on 7/7/1953. The Pacific Ave. wall of the store caved in completely. One firefighter collapsed at the site, and went to the hospital where he was reported in "satisfactory" condition. The fire was initially attributed to a faulty public address system or a forgotten cigarette. In a strange turn of events, the fire equipment had been there twelve hours before responding to an incinerator blaze. (TNT 7/7/1953, pg. 1)

Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery Stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fires--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Safeway store fire at 82nd & Pacific. Fire broke out at approximately 4:45 a.m. on 7/7/1953 at the Safeway store. Station 10 was the first to respond. Before the fire was under control, Fire Chief Harold Fisk was personally directing the fire fighting force of 6 engine companies, the city rescue unit and 2 hook & ladder companies. The fire fight was aided by daylight conditions and the low number of sightseers at this early hour, but hampered by low water pressure in Fern Hill district fire hydrants. (TNT 7/7/1953, pg. 1)

Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery Stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fires--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The interior of A-G Food Store No. 5 where Stan R. Engle was manager. A display of Nalley's potato chips is in the center of this view. A dairy case is on the left. Produce is displayed in the rear on the left and the other shelves are filled with bags and cans of other grocery items.

A-G Food Store No. 5 (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior exposure of H.A. Briggs store, located at 38th & Center in the Oakland building, for Associated Grocers. Hosea A. Briggs was the president of H.A. Briggs Stores, Inc. He was married to Ruth and resided at 523 Alta Vista Place in Fircrest. H.A. Briggs was also a building contractor and a member of Tacoma Master Builders. The windows of the grocery market advertise fresh bread and dairy. Stands holding Mandeville and Northrup King seeds are outside.

H.A. Briggs Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior exposure of H.A. Briggs store, located at 2802 6th Ave., for Associated Grocers. Hosea A. Briggs was the president of H.A. Briggs Stores, Inc. He was married to Ruth and resided at 523 Alta Vista Place in Fircrest. H.A. Briggs was also a building contractor and a member of Tacoma Master Builders. The windows of the store advertise summer produce- strawberries $.25 a box, cucumbers $.10 each, bananas 2 lbs for $.25, fresh bread and meats- ground $.49 lb., round $.79 lb, veal $.59-.63 lb. and pork loin $.55 lb. Outside the store are cases of Kerr canning jars, crates of watermelons and stands of seeds.

H.A. Briggs Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;

On June 20, 1952, an unidentified woman, possibly owner Marjorie Beckstead, posed with a display of Nalley products at Beckstead's Grocery, 3807 Center St. She was holding a jar of Nalley's Tang salad dressing. The display included Nalley's spaghetti dinner, Lumberjack syrup, Treasure pickles, mustard, and Nalley's mayonnaise. Other groceries were stacked on shelves behind the woman. Beckstead's was owned by Clifford R. and Marjorie Beckstead.

Grocery Stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Beckstead's Grocery (Tacoma); Nalleys, Inc. (Tacoma)--Products; Food--Tacoma--1950-1960; Food industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A view of the exterior of Midland Thriftway grocery store with parking available in front of the store. Midland was once the half-way point on the Puyallup to Tacoma street car line. The community centered on 99th and Portland Avenue. Ordered by Associated Grocers.

Grocery Stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Midland Thriftway (Tacoma); Thriftway Food Stores (Tacoma);

Views of the Tradewell Super Market and its parking lot on 6th Ave., ordered by Carroll Mortgage Co. Leslie A. Gray was manager. The supermarket offered its customers plenty of free parking at this busy location. The stores trademark pylon with the Tradewell name can be seen at the front of the the store.

Supermarkets; Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tradewell Stores, Inc. (Tacoma);

Views of the Tradewell Super Market and its parking lot on 6th Ave., ordered by Carroll Mortgage Co. Leslie A. Gray was manager. Van De Kamps Bakery is pictured prominently on the Tradewell pylon. Signs in the windows advertise avocados, oil, MD Tissue, turkey and lowered coffee prices. The suburban grocery store offered plenty of free parking for its mobile clientele. TPL-8315

Supermarkets; Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tradewell Stores, Inc. (Tacoma);

American Wholesale Grocers. Exterior of new IGA Foodtown store located at Park Ave. and Airport Way. A planter box, including two trees that extend through the roof line, and flagstone paving lead to the entrance of the store. The Van de Camps bakery windmill logo can be seen on the neon sign to the right. Parking fans out around the building. Fluorescent tube lighting illuminates the inside and outside of the store. The 20,000 square foot concrete block and Roman brick building has large plate glass windows across the north side. (TNT 8/16/1955, pg. 7-10)

IGA Foodtown (Parkland); Grocery stores--1950-1960; Supermarkets;

This was how the new IGA Foodtown store located at Park Avenue and Airport Way in Parkland appeared on the evening of August 16, 1955. One of the earliest strip malls in Pierce County, the complex contained the supermarket, bakery, variety store, cafe, beauty and barber shops, real estate office and dry cleaning plant.The entrance to the grocery store is to the right. Checkout registers and baskets can be seen behind the glass entrance. The variety section may have had its own entrance to the left of the brick wall. The store had the new feature of automatic doors and ample self service; 66 feet of self service meat, self service Van de Kamps bakery and large self service variety store. The parking lot provided space for 150 cars. Photograph ordered by American Wholesale Grocers. (TNT 8/16/1955, pg. 7-10)

IGA Foodtown (Parkland); Grocery stores--1950-1960; Supermarkets;

Interior of Groff's Natural Foods. Groff's, in downtown Tacoma, stressed the importance of eating right, using "natural" foods and vitamins to keep a person healthy. Whole grain flour and cereals, a selection of salt-free foods, Vitamin A-packed carrot juice, 100% pure honey, and even mineralized cookies were offered to discerning customers. Jugs of papaya juice, surely not a standard on the 1950's breakfast tables, were also available for purchase. Groff's was to celebrate its grand reopening on October 28, 1955. The store had been in the same location in the Crystal Palace Shopping Center at 11th & Market Sts. for the past fifteen years. Owner Virgil Groff claimed his store had the largest supply of vitamins in Tacoma. Photograph ordered by Groff's Natural Foods. (TNT 10-27-55, A-8)

Groff's Natural Foods (Tacoma); Nutrition--Tacoma--1950-1960; Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Thriftway Park 'N Shop, formerly the Park 'N Shop, self serve meat department. The white aproned butcher holds a Carsten's fully cooked smoked ham in one hand and a Lynden turkey in the other. The signs on the display coolers advertise this week's special, steaks and pot roasts for 49 cents a pound. Mirrors reflect the containers of pre-packaged meats waiting for the shopping homemaker to take home.

Park-N- Shop (Parkland); Supermarkets; Grocery stores--Parkland--1950-1960;

The Highland Hills Big Bear store at 5915 6th Avenue, near Pearl Street, opened in 1955 to serve the growing West end, including the areas of University Place and Fircrest. The Big Bear was the first tenant of the Highland Hills Shopping Center, which had its Grand Opening in December of 1956. When completed, the shopping center had 21 stores with a pedestrian mall in the center and five acres of parking.

Big Bear Stores (Tacoma); Supermarkets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs;

Exterior Lakewood Thriftway. The sleek modern lines of the Lakewood Thriftway supermarket were photographed on October 3, 1954. The flat overhanging roof jutting out from the concrete block building would provide protection from the weather for waiting customers . The Lakewood Thriftway would celebrate its grand opening October 7-9, 1954, with an impressive array of free gifts. Orchids, coffee, cake, ice cream, merry-go-round and pony rides would be provided free of charge. 7,500 different varieties of foods would be offered for sale in the 12,000 square foot store. Stan Engle was the co-owner and general manager of the new supermarket. Photograph ordered by the Condon Co., Inc., an advertising agency. (TNT 10-6-54, B-5)

Thriftway Food Stores (Lakewood); Grocery stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma);