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;

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;

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, Cosmetic, Perfume and Toiletries Department.

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

Peoples (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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, 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 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;

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

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

Peoples Department Store employees. Portrait of seventeen women and eight men posing on sales floor. Photograph ordered by the Tacoma Times. (filed with Argentum)

Department stores--Tacoma; Peoples (Tacoma)--People;

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;

ca. 1937. Peoples' Store party. Large group of men and women gathered in the corner of a ballroom.

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

Studio set-up of model, Peoples Store, Mrs. Ehrlich. A model is seen from the back wearing a street-length coat with a yoke and full sleeves with broad cuffs. She is holding a purse and gloves. She is also wearing nylon stockings with seams in the back and sling-back pumps. Coats similar to this one were on sale at Peoples for $22.00 during February 1949.

Peoples (Tacoma); Coats; Fashion models--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950;

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);

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);

Weisfield and Goldberg were well known for their beautiful jewelry selection, but they also had an extensive home furnishings department. The window display features a complete dining room set with table, chairs, buffet, tableware and silverware. The background has other showrooms filled with mirrors and other furnishings. The sign on the right side advertises tableware which includes the silver, four famous patterns to choose from.

Department stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Window displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Dining tables; Furniture stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Silverware; Weisfield & Goldberg, Inc. (Tacoma);

Beauty Shop in Rhodes Department Store. Shampoo sinks at left, dryers at rear, manicure tables at right.

Business Enterprises - Department Stores - Beauty Shops - Tacoma - Rhodes Brothers Service Industry Facilities - Beauty Shops

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 fabric section.

Business Enterprises - Department Stores - Tacoma - Rhodes Brothers - Fabric Department

Rhodes Department Store lingerie section.

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

Rhodes Department Store fabric section.

Business Enterprises - Department Stores - Tacoma - Rhodes Brothers - Fabric Department

Rhodes department store offered their customers a wide selection of everything they might need to look their best. Rhodes received new merchandise on a daily basis. View of men's socks and shirts section at Rhodes Bros, Easter sales signs in center of sock fixtures.

Department stores--Tacoma; Hosiery; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1940-1950; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Tacoma);

ca. 1926. Stone Fisher Company department store window featuring the "Big 3" electric washing machines with tanks "insulated to keep water hot". Exhibit includes wringer washing machine, galvanized wash tubs, a mangle, and wooden clothes dryer. (Filed with Argentum)

Fisher's Department Store (Tacoma); Department stores--Tacoma--1920-1930; Washing machines--1920-1930;