Winthrop Hotel executive William R. Conant, Sr., and Sonia Fowler (now Sonia Gray) watch as their kimono-clad waitress in the Kokura Restaurant pours a small cup of tea on July 13, 1964. The Kokura was the Winthrop Hotel's latest major improvement, an authentic Japanese restaurant located on the Broadway level. Named after Tacoma's sister-city in Japan, the Kokura served only Japanese food. To add to the atmosphere, the chef and waitresses were of Japanese descent. Customers entered the Kokura through a torii, an orange-red gate, and were directed to small private dining rooms separated by shoji screens. Tables were low and customers sat on padded cushions resting on tatami mats, much as they would in Japan. Bamboo-covered walls and hanging paper-like lighting fixtures added to the dining experience. The Kokura closed in 1971. (Photograph ordered by the Winthrop Hotel.) (TNT 5-10-64, B-10, TNT ad 10-14-64, A-8) TPL-9851

Kokura Restaurant (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970; Dining rooms--Tacoma--1960-1970; Waitresses--Tacoma; Kimonos; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Conant, William R.; Fowler, Sonia;

This vast parking lot will not be empty for long as the relocated Bon Marche prepares for its grand opening at the Tacoma Mall Shopping Center in the summer of 1964. The Bon would be the first store in the new shopping center located on 83 acres west of the freeway between So. 43rd and So. 48th Sts. View of imposing four-story Bon Marche with Cascade Room restaurant attached taken on July 27, 1964. The three million dollar structure was built by Nelson Construction of reinforced concrete with distinctive red-brick facing. It was the largest department store in Southwest Washington. (TNT 8-2-64, A-1)

Bon Marche (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1960-1970; Facades--Tacoma--1960-1970; Parking lots--Tacoma--1960-1970; Shopping centers--Tacoma;

Fine linens at the Bon Marche. Although paper napkins were becoming more popular as people discovered their convenience, table linens were still promoted and sold in fine department stores in the 1960's. Lace doilies, cloth napkins and linen tablecloths are exhibited in elegant open display cases at the new Bon Marche, Tacoma Mall. Located on the third (or top) floor, the fine linens section would be decorated with gold lamps, imported gold wallpaper and walnut paneling. The Bon would celebrate its grand opening on August 3, 1964. (TNT 8-2-64, B-9)

Bon Marche (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1960-1970; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tablecloths; Textiles;

An attentive crowd, including Governor Albert Rosellini and Miss Tacoma Angela Nicholson (seated on stage, front row), observed the flag ceremonies at the official August 3, 1964 opening of the $3 million dollar Bon Marche department store at the new Tacoma Mall. Other dignitaries visible on stage included City councilman Maurice Finnigan, County commissioners Fritz Geiger and Pat Gallagher, and Bon managing director Darrel Vannice. The speaker at the podium has been tentatively identified as Tacoma Deputy Mayor Arnold Herrmann. The grand opening attracted 150,000 visitors causing massive traffic jams. The Bon offered free bus service from downtown Tacoma several times daily to their new location and also advertised the acres of free parking available for shoppers. Photograph ordered by the Bon Marche.

Bon Marche (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1960-1970; Shopping centers--Tacoma; Dedications--Tacoma--1960-1970; Governors; Rosellini, Albert D.; Nicholson, Angela; Flags--United States; State flags;

Grand opening of Bon Marche at the Tacoma Mall. 150,000 people attended the official opening on August 3, 1964, of the first occupant of the Tacoma Mall Shopping Center. The parking lot is crammed full of cars, including a charter bus. Although the News Tribune had run several articles on driving directions, including alternative ways to get to the Mall, massive traffic jams would occur anyway. Even when visitors managed to get to the Mall, paved parking was quickly snapped up and many were forced to park in unpaved areas. Once completed, paved parking lots would hold up to 6000 cars. Hordes of shoppers would await opening day speeches from various dignitaries including Governor Albert D. Rosellini before the doors finally opened. A few intrepid souls are perched on the roofs of the massive four-story department store, giving them a good bird's eye view of the swirling activity. (TNT 8-4-64, p. 18) TPL-9645

Bon Marche (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1960-1970; Shopping centers--Tacoma; Dedications--Tacoma--1960-1970; Parking lots--Tacoma--1960-1970; Automobiles--Tacoma--1960-1970; Crowds--Tacoma;

Exterior of the Kokura Restaurant. Located on the Broadway level of the Winthrop Hotel, the Kokura restaurant opened in the summer of 1964. It featured the finest Japanese cuisine which was prepared and served by those of Japanese descent. The restaurant was named after Tacoma's city-sister, Kokura, Japan. The Winthrop would later be sold in 1970 and rooms converted to senior housing. TPL-5021

Kokura Restaurant (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Glassware section in the new Bon Marche. A week prior to its August 3, 1964, grand opening, the Bon Marche, first store at the new Tacoma Mall Shopping Center, was primed and ready to go. A look into the glassware shop area saw widely spaced display tables filled with elegant stemware and vases located near the china, gift and silver shops. This is the view from the west entrance to the Mall level. The store's bridal registry was here as well. The Bon had relocated from its longtime downtown spot to the new Tacoma Mall; the four-story store would have over 250,000 square feet and be able to showcase merchandise more effectively. (TNT 8-2-64, B-5)

Bon Marche (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1960-1970; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tableware; Glassware; Vases;

Scenes from Gov-Mart. Before there was Costco and Sam's Club in this area, there was Gov-Mart South, which claimed to be the Northwest's first and finest membership department store. Throngs attended the grand opening on October 14, 1964, of a new market and other additions to the store. October 14th saw a change in name and policy, as well as showcasing expansion: store name changed to Gov-Mart/Baza'r and it was now open to the public without membership requirements. 20,000 eager shoppers took advantage of Gov-Mart's one-stop discount shopping that promised complete customer satisfaction with low prices. Photograph ordered by Gov-Mart. (TNT 10-13-64, p. 8)

Gov-Mart South (Lakewood); Department stores--Lakewood--1960-1970; Crowds--Lakewood;

J.C. Penney's had a gas station and auto center located right next to their new store at the Tacoma Mall Shopping Center in 1965. A 1960 Chevy El Camino truck and a 1965 Ford Mustang are ready to be serviced at the outdoor pumps. Customers and attendants were protected from Northwest weather by the auto center's extended roofline. The auto center and the main store opened on October 13, 1965. Lysle G. Paterson was manager of the Tacoma Mall Penney's. Photograph ordered by News Tribune. TPL-498

J.C. Penney Co. (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1960-1970; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tacoma Mall Shopping Center (Tacoma); Shopping centers--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Night exposure of Kmart, Sixth Ave. The newly built Kmart department store, 5132 Sixth Ave., provides a beacon of light in the early fall darkness of October 2, 1967. Large neon letters spell out the store name. The store, the 200th in the Kmart chain, was located west of Orchard St. on Sixth Ave., next to Busch's Sixth Ave. Drive-In. It is still there 38 years later in 2005. Photograph ordered by the News Tribune. (TNT ad 10-1-67, A-23, TNT 10-4-67, A-4)

Kmart (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1960-1970; Electric signs--Tacoma--1960-1970;

The Peoples Store at South 11th and Pacific was in the middle of its three year program of modernization when this photograph of its exterior was taken late March, 1941. A painter on scaffolding can be seen near the top of the building as painting of the department store's exterior has just commenced. Peoples was a longtime fixture in downtown Tacoma as it began operations in 1895. The store constantly ran ads in the local newspapers with their slogan "more merchandise for less money." It would finally close in 1983.

Department stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Peoples (Tacoma); Facades--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Rhodes Department Store, "Hi School Shop", Junior's Fashion section. Murals on walls, splatter painted fixtures, many dresses and skirts.

Business Enterprises - Department Stores - Tacoma - Rhodes Brothers

Rhodes Department Store lingerie section.

Business Enterprises - Department Stores - Tacoma - Rhodes Brothers - Clothing Departments - Lingerie Department

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;

The opening ceremony of Sears Roebuck and Company's new triple deck parking garage was held June 7, 1951. Several weeks of extensive construction activity by Woodworth and Company completed the project in record time. The 50' by 100' Sears Farm Store building was razed in January 1951 to make way for the garage. Central Market can be seen across the street at 1120 Market as well as Corbits Poultry at 1142 Market. Ordered by Sears Roebuck & Company, Don Anderson. (TNT, 6/6/1951, p.B-6)

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Parking garages--Tacoma--1950-1960; Building dedications--Tacoma--1950-1960;

View of window display at Fisher's Department Store; the display features modern "Morton and Kelvinator" kitchen appliances and cabinets, with a female mannequin on right side. "Morton" pantryettes and kitchen cabinets are along the walls of the display; "Kelvinator" range, freezer, double kitchen sink and refrigerator help give this kitchen all of the modern conveniences.

Department stores--Tacoma; Cupboards--Tacoma; Kitchens--Tacoma--1940-1950; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Window displays; Appliances; Appliance stores--Tacoma; Mannequins; Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma);

Metropolitan Chain Stores were a department store located in Tacoma's downtown shopping district. Metropolitan offered their customers a wide variety of services, including key making and a luncheonette cafeteria with daily specials; Metropolitan's store manager was Walter M. Arnold. View of window display featuring "Advance" dress patterns and 15 cent underwear sale.

Department stores--Tacoma; Fabric shops--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Window displays; Sewing equipment & supplies; Sewing--Tacoma; Patterns (Design elements); Metropolitan Chain Stores (Tacoma);

20 trucks at store, Sears Roebuck & Company, Mr. Moore. Trucks from L.M. Jezek Trucking are lined up in the parking lot at Sears, Roebuck and Company. They were used to transfer merchandise from the local Sears store to Seattle. A labor dispute had kept ten Tacoma stores closed for more than five weeks and no progress was being made as to the opening of the retail department stores. Several men are standing out of the rain under the overhang on the key maker's station.(T.Times, 9/16/1948, p.13) TPL-9609

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Retail trade strikes--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Weisfield's Inc., previously known as Weisfield & Goldberg Inc., window display in the Commerce Street entrance, features "America's Greatest Chair Value" Samson All-Purpose folding chairs, for only $7.95. The chair has a cushion comfort chair, welded steel construction for durability, baked enamel finish and durable samsonite covering. Samson folding tables are featured for $12.95. The chairs and tables are a great buy for either the business or the home.

Department stores--Tacoma; Window displays; Tables; Chairs; Home furnishings stores--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Weisfield's, Inc. (Tacoma);

The Peoples Department Store at 1101-07 Pacific Avenue formally opened their new first floor mezzanine on Saturday, August 12, 1950. The new addition held men's clothing, boys' ready-to-wear and both the men's and boys' shoe departments. The newly remodeled men's furnishings and ladies' shoe departments were located on the first floor, with new modern fixtures, carpets and tiles throughout the area. A wide, carpeted stairway with streamlined aluminum guard rails was built to lead to the new mezzanine floor from the main center aisle. 3400 square feet of retail sales space had been added. Peoples, which had opened at 11th and Pacific in 1895, closed in 1983 - the last large department store to leave downtown Tacoma. (TNT 8-11-50, p. 6)

Peoples (Tacoma); Mezzanines--Tacoma; Stairways--Tacoma; Department stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;

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;

The beauty salon at Rhodes Department Store. A day shopping at the downtown Tacoma Rhodes Store in the mid fifties was not just a quick shopping junket; it could be an elegant all day affair including a luxurious shampoo and style at the beauty salon and lunch at the store's cafe. Women would dress up in hats, gloves and dresses to peruse the latest in fashions and home apparel and enjoy the day at the store. The salon is beautifully appointed with elegant lighting, a mirrored makeup table and a receptionist stand with styling stations behind. The standing hair dryers can just be glimpsed in the background.

Department stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Beauty shops--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior view of J.C. Penney store. Built in 1916 and known as the Frye Building, the J.C. Penney department store made substantial renovations to the building with its occupancy in the 1930's, prompting a visit from company founder, J.C. Penney in 1934. Ornamental frieze and the Italianate style of architecture make an interesting contrast to the more modern display windows found on the first floor. Photograph ordered by the J.C. Penney Co.

J.C. Penney Co. (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Facades--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Six Sears, Roebuck employees appear to be happily gazing at a check or benefit statement from their employer in this March, 1953, photograph. D.A. Anderson, manager of Sears Tacoma, presents Connie Vaughn, newest member to the profit sharing plan, her annual statement. Sears offered profit sharing as one of their many employer-paid benefits to all regular employees after a year's employment. A poster on the wall behind the employees shows some of the benefits covered by the company; besides profit sharing, these included paid vacation and holidays, group life insurance, group hospitalization and employee discounts. A second poster displays a map locating Sears retail and factory stores nationwide and indicates the possibility for unlimited advancement. (TNT 3-7-53, p. 7)

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (Tacoma)--Employees--1950-1960; Employee fringe benefits; Posters; Anderson, D.A.; Vaughn, Connie;

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;

Tires section, Kmart department store. John Harvey (L) and James Fought pause during the set-up of the tires/auto accessories section of the new Kmart department store on Sixth Ave. on October 2, 1967. Built across the street from the First Christian Church and next door to Busch's Sixth Ave. Drive-In, Kmart was prepared to offer West enders a complete discount department store where automotive, appliance, clothing, and household needs could be met. The store would celebrate its grand opening on October 5, 1967. Photograph ordered by the News Tribune. (TNT ad 10-1-67, A-23, TNT 10-4-67, A-4)

Kmart (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1960-1970; Harvey, John; Fought, James; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1960-1970; Automobile equipment & supplies; Tires;

Interior aisles of Kmart, Sixth Ave. Kmart department store, 5132 Sixth Ave., prepared for its grand opening in October, 1967. Standing next to a matching washer-dryer set is general manager Robert Emery Armstrong. Mr. Armstrong was a Kmart manager for many years and later worked in the company office. The massive store totaled 105,000 square feet; with its wide aisles, customers had plenty of room to maneuver. A sampling of merchandise in the store included records, party goods, hobby shop products, appliances, and housewares. Multiple check-out registers ensured that customers could shop and pay for items quickly. Photograph ordered by the News Tribune. (Additional information provided by a reader)

Kmart (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1960-1970; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1960-1970; Armstrong, Robert Emery;

The staff of Kmart's newest Tacoma store poses for a group portrait before the doors open to the public for the first time on September 19, 1968. The store, located at 1414 E. 72nd St., was the second Kmart in town; the first was located on Sixth Ave. next to Busch's Drive-In. The eastside Kmart had a large staff, predominantly female who wore either the white uniforms of restaurant workers or the modified aprons of checkers and stockers. The store was managed by Glenn Darling. Photograph ordered by Kmart.

Kmart (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Mayor A.L. "Slim" Rasmussen holds part of the just-snipped ribbon at the ceremonies marking the grand opening of the city's latest Kmart department store on September 19, 1968 as Kmart officials and their families stand close by. From L-R are (unidentified woman), W.E. Warburton and R. Archibald Fawcett, Kmart regional officials; Richard Beebe representing Governor Dan Evans; Mayor Rasmussen; Mrs. Glenn W. Darling and store manager Mr. Darling; Robert E. Dewar and Robert H. Griffin, corporate Kmart officials; (unidentified man in back and unidentified women). The store was located on the east side of town, at 72nd and Portland Ave. It followed closely the October, 1967, opening of the first Kmart on Sixth Ave. Kmart provided its customers with discounted department store wares, appliances, auto services and plenty of free parking. Photograph ordered by Kmart. (TNT 9-20-68, C-19)

Kmart (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1960-1970; Dedications--Tacoma--1960-1970; Rasmussen, Albert Lawrence; Mayors--Tacoma--1960-1970; Darling, Glenn W.; Dewar, Robert E.; Griffin, Robert H.; Beebe, Richard; Warburton, W.E.;

New Kmart store. This parking lot would not stay empty long. Kmart opened its second store in Tacoma at E. 72nd & Portland Ave. in the fall of 1968. Tacoma's first Kmart was located on Sixth Ave. and had opened just the year before. The newer Kmart was built similarly to the older one; it had an enormous parking lot for customer convenience and provided the Kmart chain of affordable department store wares, auto services and garden supplies. The bright bold Kmart neon sign would attract hundreds of shoppers to the store's September 19th grand opening. Photograph ordered by the News Tribune. (TNT 9-18-68, C-4)

Kmart (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1960-1970; Electric signs--Tacoma--1960-1970; Parking lots--Tacoma--1960-1970;