Cash registers and check out stands at Sib's Thriftway. The new market had eight check out stands with conveyor belts to speed checking. Little push carts were provided for children to shop with Mommy and small tables and chairs were available for children to sit and color. The interior decorating colors were yellow, green and brown and soft background music played. The window glass was frosted and the store had fluorescent lighting and air conditioning. The store had some of the first automatic opening doors in use. (TNT 9/2/1953, pg. C-1)
Food Giant Supermarket. Numerous cars are parked at the Food Giant supermarket which was conveniently open 9 am to 9 pm in 1956. The location of this particular supermarket was not provided. The 1956 and 1957 City Directories did not list a Food Giant.
The sign for Highland Hills (originally Highland Hill) Shopping Center. The parking lot was still under construction; the Grand Opening was scheduled for December of 1956. The shopping center was built to serve the growing population of the West End, including University Place and Fircrest. Located on 6th Ave. near Peal, the center would be convenient to these areas. The first tenant was the Big Bear Store, which opened in 1955. The center would house 21 stores in a modern layout with a pedestrian mall in the center and 5 acres of customer parking. The angled roofline created visual interest. (TNT 10/28/1956, pg. C-17)
Big Bear Stores (Tacoma); Supermarkets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs; Highland Hills Shopping Center (Tacoma); Highland Hill Shopping Center (Tacoma); Shopping centers--Tacoma;
At 10:15 p.m. the new Tradewell supermarket at South 56th and Pacific Avenue is closed for the day. Six cigarette stands are placed before the checkout aisles; popular brands of Pall Mall , Kool, Philip Morris and Camel are readily available for the Tacoma shopper. The SpeeDee automated checkout lines resemble their 2001 counterparts, including rubber "sticks" to separate shoppers' groceries. Photograph ordered by Tradewell, Inc., Seattle.
Tradewell Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Supermarkets; Cigarettes; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The spacious parking lot is full and more cars seem to be headed toward the grand opening, in early May, 1953, of the newest Tradewell supermarket located at Sixth Avenue & Union. Flags flap briskly in the spring air as shoppers stroll by. The store was built basically in the same style as other Tradewell's; it was a one-story, made of Roman brick, and sported large attractive windows. A Van de Kamps bakery was included in the supermarket. This was store #30; the supermarket would later be destroyed by fire in September, 1963. Photograph ordered by Carl Swanson, Tradewell Stores, Inc.
Tradewell Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Supermarkets; Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Parking lots--Tacoma--1950-1960;
A dazzling display of canned goods greet the shopper at the new Sixth Avenue Tradewell supermarket in late April, 1953. There is not an empty space showing among the rows of Campbell and Heinz soups or Walla Walla and S&W vegetables. Checkered tile emphasizes the trend of wide shopping aisles in new supermarkets so that shopping carts could pass with ease. The Tradewell store at 3609 Sixth Avenue would be store #30 and celebrate its grand opening on May 4, 1953. General contractors were the Bona Fide Builders, Inc., who had also built the Pacific Avenue Tradewell a few months before. Like the Pacific Avenue store, the Sixth Avenue location would have special housewares and toiletries departments. Tradewell stores were noted for their large parking lots, ample display space for merchandise and many types of modern equipment, including the newest in automatic check stands. Photograph ordered by Carl Swanson, Tradewell Stores, Inc. (TNT 5-3-53, E-4,5)
Tradewell Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Supermarkets; Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960;
By 1953, Tradewell Stores had three supermarkets in the Tacoma area. The above picture is that of the newest Tradewell, the Sixth Avenue location which was across the street from the Union Oil service station. It had a large, well-lit parking lot to handle a multitude of shoppers. As with other Tradewell stores, Van de Kamps Bakery was a prime addition to the supermarket. The Sixth Avenue Tradewell was preparing for its grand opening in early May, 1953. A staff of 70 would be involved in the grand opening of the 12,000 foot supermarket. New amenities such as music playing softly over a public address system would be offered. A whimsical touch would be the hand painted scenes of farm life on the east and west walls. Tradewell's traditional large sign would be clearly visible along Sixth Avenue; the sign would be 30 feet high with Tradewell letters three feet high and 22 feet in length. Photograph ordered by Carl Swanson, Tradewell Stores, Inc. (TNT 5-3-53, E-4,5)
Tradewell Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Supermarkets; Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);
Tradewell supermarket exterior. This Tradewell supermarket in University Place, managed by Wilford Noble, was celebrating its grand opening on July 14, 1960. A large banner placed against the store's front windows announced the opening. A multi-arched roof protected customers when entering or exiting the supermarket. It would be the fourth Tradewell in the local area. The grand opening was heavily advertised with four full page ads in the News Tribune. Highlights noted were the "Hot Shop" bakery where bread and pastries were baked in-store, the personal service seafood department, the new "Air Screen" beverage department, a rotisserie in continuous operation, and extra wide aisles. Bargain hunters could find such specials as: 10 lb. bag Tradewell flour for 69 cents, 10 lb. bag C & H sugar for 89 cents, 35 cents a pound fresh Washington fryers and a quart of Nalley's mayonaise for 49 cents. Photograph ordered by Tradewell Stores, Inc., Seattle. (TNT 7-13-60, B-1-4)
Four Safeway employees surveyed newspaper food ads at the University Place Safeway store on March 13, 1961. The store was located at 7506 27th St. W. and was preparing for its grand opening in two days. This would be Safeway's 13th and newest market. Safeway shared space in a new University Place shopping center with Value Store and Thrifty Drug. From L-R: meat department manager Alvin Glasgow, store manager Leslie Carl, produce department manager Robert Arneberg and Tacoma Safety district manager, Fred Bucholtz. Safeway was running a canned food sale for seven days which included 5 cans of Del Monte green peas at $1.00, 3 cans of asparagus spears for 89 cents, 4 cans of Elberta peaches at 95 cents and 7 cans of pork & beans for $1.00. Photograph ordered by the News Tribune. (TNT 3-14-61, p. 6, 7) TPL-6171
Managed by Floyd Bloom, the K&W Thriftway in Parkland would be celebrating its grand opening on December 12, 1963. It was combined with Save Way Drugs, managed by Don Shaw. Besides the usual grocery items of meat, fresh produce, and beverages, shoppers could also purchase hardware, variety items, pick up prescriptions and enjoy dining at the snack bar. A new concept of merchandising was used called "total shopping," whereby everything in both stores could be checked through the grocery checkstands instead of individual departments. This was thought to save time and steps for shoppers. Photograph ordered by the News Tribune. (TNT 12-11-63, A-10)
Daily operations at Dalgety Foods. Assembly line workers inspect bags of vegetables, possibly corn, as the bags pass by on the conveyor belt. Dalgety Foods were frozen vegetable and fruit processors. Photograph ordered by Dalgety Foods.
Daily operations at Dalgety Foods. Sparklets Green Peas boxes are possibly being filled with the vegetables or lids mechanically sealed via assembly-line methods in this April, 1978, photograph at the Dalgety Foods plant. Photograph ordered by Dalgety Foods.
Daily operations at Dalgety Foods. Dalgety Foods were frozen vegetable and fruit processors. A Dalgety employee pictured above in April of 1978 is examining trays of Western Family Cut Corn, Bel-Air Green Peas and a succotash mixture. Photograph ordered by Dalgety Foods.
ca. 1979. Hillside Grocery, 1602 South G St., circa 1979. Double doors are posted with cigarette ads, while adjacent stairs lead to the apartments above. This building was added to the City Registry in 1995. It was built in 1889 as the Estil K Christie Grocery Store and residence. It has had a number of owners through the years. It received the "Hillside" name in the early 1970's.
ca. 1932. Sanitary Meat Market at the Sanitary Public Market, 1108 Market St. Three butchers behind glass and marble meat counter in this circa 1932 photograph. (filed with Argentum)
ca. 1932. The Bay City Market and cafe in the Hoffman Block, 1144-46 Pacific Ave., circa 1932. The Hoffman Block was built in 1908 and was the location for the Morris Gross store and later the Central Public Market. In 1932, the storefront was remodeled by Emory Morgan, Architect, for the Bay City Market. Employees in uniform posed in front, NRA posters in windows, Dr. Norris' Tacoma Dental Parlors on second floor, Hotel Ridpath above. The building has since been demolished. (filed with Argentum)
Bay City Market (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1930-1940; Dr. Norris' Tacoma Dental Parlors (Tacoma); Hotel Ridpath (Tacoma);
April 6, 1935 saw the Grand Opening of the newest H. Berger & Sons grocery store at 8108 South Tacoma Way. In this photograph, the meat market is featured with an unidentified butcher behind the meat counter, beef and hams hanging behind him and flowers adorning the counter. During the opening sale, steak was available at 18 cents a pound and ground beef at 10 cents. The Tacoma based chain of stores got its start at the turn of the century with Henry Berger's butcher shop. In the old days, Mr. Berger made his own deliveries door to door from his Fern Hill shop with a pushcart. By 1935, this local Tacoma family owned business owned four retail grocery stores plus feed warehouses and its own slaughterhouse. (T. Times 4/5/1935)
H. Berger & Sons (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1930-1940; Butchers--Tacoma;
Unidentified Grocery Store interior showing display case. Counter with scales on top, dairy and meat case below. Gold Medal and Lake Park butter in case. Canned food on shelves, Tacoma Dairy calendar in background. For Andrews Showcase Manufacturing Company. (filed with Argentum)
ca. 1926. Grocery store interior. Canned goods on shelves, scale, Wrigleys and Beech Nut Gum, Karo Syrup, Leslie Salt, Snow Flake Crackers in display case. Flowers in vases on countertop. (filed in Argentum)
A Model Bakery truck driver delivers "Star Loaf" bread to Washburn's Market. Wallace and Ella Washburn opened their meat market and grocer store here in 1917 when the building was first constructed. Clesent and Eleanor Washburn continued to run the store until 1966. Dr. Julius C. Bohn opened an office on the second floor in 1921. He closed his office in 1956 after 55 years of practice. The dedicated physician was named "family doctor of the year" in 1951 by members of the Pierce County Medical Association. The building was demolished in 1967 to build a Union 76 service station. In 1991, a new two-story building was built on the site and once again food stores and offices occupy this popular corner in the Proctor District.
Grocery stores--Tacoma--1930-1940; Butcher shops--Tacoma--1930-1940; Washburn's Market (Tacoma); Bohn, Julius C.; Physicians; Medical offices--Tacoma;
ca. 1927. C&M Grocery Company, Stalls 108 -111, Crystal Palace Market. Men behind counter are likely owners Nunzio Carnevale and James Maruca. Ordered by Toledo Scales. (Argentum)
Markets--Tacoma--1920-1930; Crystal Palace Market (Tacoma); C & M Grocery Co. (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1920-1930;
In August of 1938 after many years in the grocery business in Tacoma, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Atwood opened a new IGA store at 124 Tacoma Avenue North in the Stadium district. The previously standing brick building was completely remodeled and all new equipment of the latest design was installed. From the gigantic ice cream refrigerator to the marble-topped service counter everything possible was done to create a store that would fulfill the expectations of the discriminating shoppers in this important section of town. (T. Times 8/12/1938)
Interior of Piggly Wiggly Grocery Store, probably Bremerton. Three men stand among the isles between bakery display and canned goods. Sign of wall " Parade of Progress, nationally known grocery products" between two Ritz Cracker advertising panels.
ca. 1905. James Delbert and Frank Armstrong (left to right) stand at the entrance to the Armstrong Bros. grocery store at 5648 So. Union Avenue (now So. Tacoma Way) in the early part of the 20th century. Vegetables fill the window space at left while paintings are on display at right. The store was earlier known as Armstrong & Baker.
Armstrong Bros. (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1900-1910; Armstrong, James Delbert; Armstrong, Frank;
ca. 1914. The staff of the Queen City Market lined up in front of the store which had opened in early March of 1914. It was located in a three-story building at 1115 Broadway in downtown Tacoma, adjoining the Horgan-Parker department store. The market had a modern refrigerating system installed with ammonia pipes in all showcases. The Queen City Market offered for sale meats, butter, eggs, cheese, fresh fish, oysters and crabs, and misc. groceries. It was managed by Albert Bruner. (TDL 3-1-1914, p. 3-article)
Queen City Market (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1910-1920;
Dill pickle display at Skaggs-Safeway Market #277. In 1927 Skaggs-Safeway Market #277 was located at South 12th & "K" (now Martin Luther King Jr. Way) Sts. The store was promoting its second carload of Dill Pickles at 25 cents a dozen. Shoppers could pick and choose among hundreds of juicy pickles piled on display. The Northwest-based Skaggs United Stores along with Skaggs Cash Stores and the California-based Safeway Stores had recently consolidated to become known as the Skaggs-Safeway Stores. G56.2-132
This is how the Center Street Market appeared in the summer of 1931. The short-lived fruit and vegetable market, owned by Wilton W. Kean, was located at the corner of Center and I Street. Its immediate neighbor was the Tacoma Bread Company, 2836 S. I, shown at far right. Tacoma Bread would purchase the market in 1933, tear it down, and build a $10,000 addition to its plant. Photograph taken for Wilton W. Kean. Bowen # 310-255 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 10-29-33-article & photograph of Tacoma Bread Co. addition)
