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;
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
Tacoma's seventh Safeway Store opened at the corner of 6th Avenue and Pine Street on October 10, 1941 shortly before this photograph was taken. The new store, which replaced the Safeway at 2603 6th Avenue, had its own parking lot which provided 1 hour free parking for Safeway shoppers. The corner of 6th and Pine had just been re-designed to eliminate the 6th Avenue "jog", solving a problem which cause a bottleneck at that corner.
Grocery Stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma);
Looking north on South Tacoma Way toward South 54th Street. Safeway Store is in Hallack Building of 1927 at left center, service station at corner, many automobiles on street.
Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950;
September, 1942, view of Safeway parking lot at 52nd and South Tacoma Way for store at 5400 South Tacoma Way. A new store was soon to be built on this site.
Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Supermarkets--Tacoma--1940-1950; Parking lots--Tacoma--1940-1950;
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;
Novotney Super Market, Mr. Ole Bernstein, Novotney Super Market. Norman Berger together with Stan and Frank Novotney were making their dreams come true by opening a grocery, produce, feed and meats store at South 78th and Portland Avenue. Norman Berger was formerly associated with his father at H. Berger & Son at 84th Street and Pacific Avenue. Norman Berger was to be in charge of the meat portion of the new business. (T.Times, 9/30/1948, p.8)
The Thomas Bros. Foodliner in University Place had its grand opening in September, 1951. Owned and operated by Al, Frank and Joe Thomas, it was a modern supermarket with self-service meat department, refrigerated produce, high speed conveyor checkstands, and even automatic doors. Thomas Bros. carried a wide variety of foods, including this row of Chun King chow mein, mixed vegetables and Hunt's tomatoes. View of canned foods, lightbulbs. (TNT 9-12-51, A-6, A-10, A-11)
View of Tradewell grocery store. Tradewell Stores had three grocery stores in the Tacoma area by the early 1950's. They were modern supermarkets with wide aisles, multiple checkout lanes, and self-service meat and produce departments. Angled view of interior of Tradewell store; rows of canned goods, checkout lanes; bold patterned linoleum. Photograph taken approximately in late fall, 1951.
Tradewell Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cash registers; Scales;
View of grocery store. Tradewell Stores had three grocery stores in the Tacoma area in the early 1950's: 6134 Motor Ave. S.W., 5605 Pacific Ave. and 3601 6th Ave. View of interior of a Tradewell grocery; at least three checkout lanes with scales, cash registers, and cigarettes under the counter. There were wide aisles so customers could shop comfortably; Tradewell also had self-service meat departments where meat was already pre-packaged and ready for purchase. Photograph taken probably in the late fall, 1951.
Tradewell Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Scales; Cash registers;
In October of 1951, Associated Grocers was celebrating the opening of two stores in Tacoma. John Tipton's Associated Grocers Food Market (pictured), located at South 72nd and Oakes, was new to the organization. Mr. Tipton had 23 years experience in owning and operating grocery and meat markets locally. He was assisted by Roy Mercer in the meat market. His new store had plenty of parking with a large adjoining lot. The other Associated Grocers Food Market at 764 South 56th St. was re-opening after being closed for several months due to a fire. The store was completely renovated and equipped with the latest modern machinery. The structure was built in 1937 and previously operated as Frank Mosier's Meat Market and Ben's Economy Groceteria. After the 1951 renovation, it was managed by John W. Fagerholm (groceries & produce) and John Hein (meat market.) The total of AG chain stores in the area was now 13 with the addition of these two stores. (TNT ad 10-11-51, A-6; A-9-article)
Tipton's Associated Grocers Food Store (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Display of Crescent spices and extracts at Big Bear store, for Crescent Manufacturing Co. According to their slogan, Crescent is "Always the word for flavor." The Tacoma Big Bear grocery was opened in January of 1948 in the Stadium district. Don P. Taylor was the store manager.
Big Bear Stores (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Spices;
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)
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);
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)
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
