ca. 1910. Rhodes Brothers male employees, circa 1910. The men were posed outside, possibly at a store outing. All of the men, even the delivery boys posed in the front, are dressed in suits, ties and hats for the outing. The women who can be seen in outline back right are dressed in floor length dresses and wide brimmed hats. (Photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma;

ca. 1908. Employees of the Rhodes Brothers delivery department, circa 1908. The men and boys were dressed in uniforms, including 1907 style "puttee" leggings. (Names written on the back of the photograph appear to be: Back row, left to right, "Butch" Smith, Bill Sinding, Ed Lasson, Art Nedevold, Roy Andesson and Carl Johnson. Center row: Ernie Smith, "Babe" Knutson, Art Lasson, Herb Johnson and Paul Day. Front row: Al Swanson, Kenny McKeen and Al James- two unidentified) When Rhodes Brothers opened in 1903, they employed four delivery wagons. Rhodes Brothers was painted in bold letters on the horse drawn wagons. A "special delivery" boy road with the driver and carried the packages to the houses. The boys would also deliver packages by streetcar. In 1912, the wagons were replaced by gas powered delivery trucks. (Photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee) (TDL 11/8/1903, pg. 17; "A History of Pierce County Washington", Vol. 3, pg 73-77)

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma)--Employees; Department stores--Tacoma; Delivery boys;

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);

ca. 1930. Ox and cow pulling a hay filled wagon past an advertisement for Rhodes Brothers Store, circa 1930. The sign was the famous "All roads lead to Rhodes" version. When Henry A. Rhodes opened his modern emporium at 950 Broadway, he envisioned these signs bringing newcomers to Tacoma and his store. The signs were posted on all major roads around the Puget Sound, listing the distance from that point to the Rhodes store and stating "All roads lead to Rhodes." (photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

Department stores--Tacoma; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma);

ca. 1910. Rhodes Brothers Store, circa 1910; Women's fall fashions in corner window. Henry A. Rhodes opened his grand mercantile establishment, Rhodes Brothers Department Store, at 950 Broadway in 1903. By 1910, business was booming as a result of appeal of current fashions, expert merchandising and advertising. Road signs led travelers to the store from miles around, promising them that "All roads lead to Rhodes." The store employed a professional window decorator and buyers made frequent trips back east to New York for the current fashions. In 1911, three more stories were added to the building, providing a needed expansion. (photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

Department stores--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Women--Clothing & dress--1910-1920;

ca. 1904. Rhodes Brothers store, circa 1904; window display of china. Rhodes Brothers Department Store opened at this location in 1903. Part of the appeal of the structure at 950 Broadway was its many merchandise display windows. This display was of china and small figurines. (Photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma; Tableware; Porcelain;

ca. 1904. Rhodes Brothers store, circa 1904; this appears to be the Crystal and Glass Department. Henry A. Rhodes opened his grand department store at 950 Broadway in 1903. This appears to be the glass department on the first floor, with a clear view of the mezzanine, center. The mezzanine held the ladies' lounge and the office, complete with wrapping paper for purchases and a money till. (photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

Department stores--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma);

ca. 1904. Rhodes Brothers store, circa 1904; Parasol and streamer decorations with lace collars, purses and accessories. This photograph showed the Rhodes Brothers Department Store not long after opening. The mezzanine with its railing can be seen in the back. The department appears to be ladies' accessories. Photograph damaged lower left corner. (photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

Department stores--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma);

ca. 1904. Rhodes Brothers Store, circa 1904; Women's apparel, dresses and suits. The Rhodes Brothers Department Store opened at 950 Broadway near the end of the year in 1903. The womens' ready-to-wear department was an important department in the store. Mannequins model the latest fashions, brought back from the fashion capitals back east to Tacoma. (photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma; Clothing & dress--1900-1910;

ca. 1904. Rhodes Brothers Store, circa 1904; China and glassware. What appear to be mirror topped tables and mirror backed shelves reflect the china and glassware in this photograph of the Rhodes Department Store around 1904. Rhodes was an institution in Tacoma at 950 Broadway from 1903 until it closed in 1974. (photograph donated by the Rhodes Reunion Committee)

Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma; Tableware; Porcelain;

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;

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.;