Safeway store fire at 82nd & Pacific. The Safeway store sustained $260,000 in fire damage during an early morning fire on 7/7/1953. The Pacific Ave. wall of the store caved in completely. One firefighter collapsed at the site, and went to the hospital where he was reported in "satisfactory" condition. The fire was initially attributed to a faulty public address system or a forgotten cigarette. In a strange turn of events, the fire equipment had been there twelve hours before responding to an incinerator blaze. (TNT 7/7/1953, pg. 1)
Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery Stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fires--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Safeway store fire at 82nd & Pacific. Fire broke out at approximately 4:45 a.m. on 7/7/1953 at the Safeway store. Station 10 was the first to respond. Before the fire was under control, Fire Chief Harold Fisk was personally directing the fire fighting force of 6 engine companies, the city rescue unit and 2 hook & ladder companies. The fire fight was aided by daylight conditions and the low number of sightseers at this early hour, but hampered by low water pressure in Fern Hill district fire hydrants. (TNT 7/7/1953, pg. 1)
Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery Stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fires--Tacoma--1950-1960;
At approximately 4:45 a.m. on July 7, 1953, the worst fire in Tacoma in more than four years swept through the Safeway Grocery Company store at 208 South 82nd Street. More than six engine companies reported to the "2-11" class fire. The store sustained over $260,000 in damage: $112,000 for the ruined brick, wood and concrete structure, $83,000 in equipment and $65,000 in ruined food. Fire Chief Harold Fisk said that the firemen were hampered by unexpected low water pressure in the Fern Hill district fire hydrants from which hose lines were run. (TNT 7/7/1953, pg. 1)
Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery Stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Fires--Tacoma--1950-1960;
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)
Sib's Thriftway. The 52nd Thriftway store to open in Washington and Oregon was on No. 26th & Pearl in the Westgate addition. Sib Carstensen was the operator. The store was one of the largest supermarkets in the Northwest. The market sold food, magazines, comic books, housewares, greeting cards and some drugs. It featured a 1,000 car parking lot with 10 feet available between parked cars. The store was the crown jewel of the Westgate Suburban Shopping Center. When all of the stores in the center were complete, they would represent an investment of over one million dollars. The market opened with a three day Grand Opening, with free orchids, coffee & cookies and rides on the merry-go-round ponies for the kiddies. (TNT 9/2/1953, pg. C-1)
No. Stevens, looking north at the intersection of No. 26th St. On the right is the Hilltop Market at 2517 No. Stevens. On the left is Pop's Service Station at 2601 No. Stevens. Safeway stores ordered these pictures. The City Council would be hearing their application to erect a store at 26th and Stevens on January 4, 1954. The application had been turned down by the City Planning Commission. The hearing was viewed by an overflowing crowd. The main argument against rezoning this area for the erection of a $525,000 Safeway store was the resulting increased traffic. Residents felt that increasing the already heavy flow of traffic would endanger neighborhood children. Safeway argued that traffic was already bad & their off street parking would make the situation better. The supermarket chain also felt that the Planning Commission was protecting the smaller businesses. (TNT 1/5/1954, pg.1) TPL-9908
Hilltop Market (Tacoma); Pop's Service Stations (Tacoma); Safeway Stores, Inc. (Tacoma); Grocery Stores--Tacoma--1950-1960;
No. 26th St., looking west to the intersection of No. Stevens St. A school bus is turning next to the Hilltop Market at 2517 No. Stevens. Safeway stores ordered these pictures. The City Council was hearing an application from Safeway to erect a $525,000 supermarket at 26th and Stevens. The City Planning Commission had already turned down the application citing the dangers of increased traffic and opposition of the area's residents. The hearing was jammed to overflowing with spectators. Both sides argued their point and the hearing was adjourned without a resolution. (TNT 12/8/1953)
The newest and largest supermarket in the Puyallup Valley celebrated its grand opening on May 19, 1954. The Piggly-Wiggly, located at 10th & East Main in Puyallup, was the first Piggly-Wiggly built in the past 22 years in the Pacific Northwest. Owned and operated by veteran groceryman, C.A. ("Chic") Hogan, the 10,600 square foot store was made of Roman brick with huge glass front windows. It was built by Strom Construction. Hundreds of gifts ranging from TV sets, bikes, corn poppers to three lively cocker spaniel puppies would be awarded. The new Piggly-Wiggly was one of 800 stores in the chain operating in 38 states, Alaska and Hawaii. It was noted that food cost savings would be achieved due to the supermarket's vast purchasing power. (TNT 5-18-54, B-1) TPL-9808
Exterior Lakewood Thriftway. The sleek modern lines of the Lakewood Thriftway supermarket were photographed on October 3, 1954. The flat overhanging roof jutting out from the concrete block building would provide protection from the weather for waiting customers . The Lakewood Thriftway would celebrate its grand opening October 7-9, 1954, with an impressive array of free gifts. Orchids, coffee, cake, ice cream, merry-go-round and pony rides would be provided free of charge. 7,500 different varieties of foods would be offered for sale in the 12,000 square foot store. Stan Engle was the co-owner and general manager of the new supermarket. Photograph ordered by the Condon Co., Inc., an advertising agency. (TNT 10-6-54, B-5)
Thriftway Food Stores (Lakewood); Grocery stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma);
Exterior shopping center. Lakewood was already a thriving community by 1954 as residents were starting to move from crowded urban areas to more open land in the suburbs. The Lakewood Thriftway supermarket was located in a small shopping center along with a Texaco gas station and Hamlin Cleaners. Built by the March Building Co., it was a concrete block contemporary styled building with a parking lot that would hold 300 cars. The supermarket would hold its grand opening October 7-9, 1954, with free entertainment and gifts for customers, including a performance by Cherokee Jack, merry-go-round and pony rides for children, free orchids, coffee, cake and ice cream plus free groceries. Lakewood Thriftway would offer soft background music played while the customers shopped and seven ultra-modern checkout stands. View of empty parking lot of shopping center with Texaco station to the left foreground and the dry cleaners and Thriftway to the rear. Photograph ordered by the Condon Co., Inc., possibly for advertising purposes. (TNT 10-6-54, B-5)
Thriftway Food Stores (Lakewood); Grocery stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Signs (Notices); Automobile service stations--Lakewood--1950-1960; Hamlin Cleaners (Lakewood); Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma);
Views of the Tradewell Super Market and its parking lot on 6th Ave., ordered by Carroll Mortgage Co. Leslie A. Gray was manager. The supermarket offered its customers plenty of free parking at this busy location. The stores trademark pylon with the Tradewell name can be seen at the front of the the store.
Supermarkets; Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tradewell Stores, Inc. (Tacoma);
Views of the Tradewell Super Market and its parking lot on 6th Ave., ordered by Carroll Mortgage Co. Leslie A. Gray was manager. Van De Kamps Bakery is pictured prominently on the Tradewell pylon. Signs in the windows advertise avocados, oil, MD Tissue, turkey and lowered coffee prices. The suburban grocery store offered plenty of free parking for its mobile clientele. TPL-8315
Supermarkets; Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tradewell Stores, Inc. (Tacoma);
Group of men, in butcher's coats and one in a chef's uniform, eye some meat hanging at the Central Market. The meat has a ribbon denoting it as a prize winner in the 4H and F.F.A. Junior Livestock show. The prize winning entries were often auctioned off to area restaurants who both served the meat and considered it a contribution to the education of future cattlemen.
Central Market (Tacoma); Meat; Butcher shops--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Interiors at Fletchers Grocery in Parkland. Photos ordered by the Jack Frost Co. Packs of cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco line the shelves behind the checkers. As the woman checker enters the prices in the cash register, two bag boys box the groceries. Signs indicate that this is the store's Grand Opening. Numerals indicate different areas of the aisles. The aisles are wide enough for carts and well stocked with canned and boxed goods.
American Wholesale Grocers. Exterior of new IGA Foodtown store located at Park Ave. and Airport Way. A planter box, including two trees that extend through the roof line, and flagstone paving lead to the entrance of the store. The Van de Camps bakery windmill logo can be seen on the neon sign to the right. Parking fans out around the building. Fluorescent tube lighting illuminates the inside and outside of the store. The 20,000 square foot concrete block and Roman brick building has large plate glass windows across the north side. (TNT 8/16/1955, pg. 7-10)
IGA Foodtown (Parkland); Grocery stores--1950-1960; Supermarkets;
This was how the new IGA Foodtown store located at Park Avenue and Airport Way in Parkland appeared on the evening of August 16, 1955. One of the earliest strip malls in Pierce County, the complex contained the supermarket, bakery, variety store, cafe, beauty and barber shops, real estate office and dry cleaning plant.The entrance to the grocery store is to the right. Checkout registers and baskets can be seen behind the glass entrance. The variety section may have had its own entrance to the left of the brick wall. The store had the new feature of automatic doors and ample self service; 66 feet of self service meat, self service Van de Kamps bakery and large self service variety store. The parking lot provided space for 150 cars. Photograph ordered by American Wholesale Grocers. (TNT 8/16/1955, pg. 7-10)
IGA Foodtown (Parkland); Grocery stores--1950-1960; Supermarkets;
American Wholesale Grocers. Nighttime view of exterior of new IGA Foodtown store located at Park Ave. and Airport Way. The supermarket shares the same strip mall with Devereaux Realty, Ruth's Cafe, a beauty and barber shop and a drycleaning plant. The entrance to the grocery store is to the right. The variety section may have had its own entrance to the left of the brick wall. Each IGA was independently owned and operated, but affiliated with IGA, the second largest retail food outlet in the country. (TNT 8/16/1955, pg. 7-10)
IGA Foodtown (Parkland); Grocery stores--1950-1960; Supermarkets;
American Wholesale Grocers. Exterior of new IGA Foodtown store located at Park Ave. and Airport Way. A planter box and flagstone paving lead to the entrance of the store. The 20,000 square foot building was built of concrete block and roman brick with large plate glass windows across the north side. A large modernistic marquee extended over the northwest corner and a raised planting area with flowering and evergreen shrubs included two oriental trees that extended through the roof. (TNT 8/16/1955, pg. 7-10)
IGA Foodtown (Parkland); Grocery stores--1950-1960; Supermarkets;
American Wholesale Grocers. Interiors of new IGA Foodtown store located at Park Ave. and Airport Way. A large self serve cooler offers chilled six-packs of Bireley's, Dad's, White Rock and Quench. The right hand side of the cooler offers single bottles of soft drinks and mixers. The new grocery store would have its Grand Opening for 4 days beginning August 17, 1955. (TNT 8/16/1955, pg. 7-10)
Carbonated beverages; IGA Foodtown (Parkland); Grocery stores--1950-1960; Supermarkets;
American Wholesale Grocers. Interiors of new IGA Foodtown store located at Park Ave. and Airport Way. The modern supermarket no longer just offered food, it also offered varieties- items to be used around the home. The Foodtown Varieties section has thread, yarn, sewing supplies, brooms, nylons, sunglasses, pictures, "bun baskets" and glassware. The variety portion was self service with shoppers using the same check out counters as the grocery store. (TNT 8/16/1955, pg. 7-10)
IGA Foodtown (Parkland); Grocery stores--1950-1960; Supermarkets;
American Wholesale Grocers. Interiors of new IGA Foodtown store located at Park Ave. and Airport Way. The end cap is a display of ABC fig bars. The cookies sell for $.49. The sign shows the "world's largest fig bar" and proclaims when better fig bars are made, ABC will make them. The Grand Opening of the store would begin August 17 and continue for 4 days. During that time, free coffee and cake would be served, every lady shopper would receive a free gift and an orchid and a Shetland pony with saddle and bridle would be one prize of many given away. (TNT 8/16/1955, pg. 7-10)
IGA Foodtown (Parkland); Grocery stores--1950-1960; Supermarkets;
Interior of Groff's Natural Foods. Groff's, in downtown Tacoma, stressed the importance of eating right, using "natural" foods and vitamins to keep a person healthy. Whole grain flour and cereals, a selection of salt-free foods, Vitamin A-packed carrot juice, 100% pure honey, and even mineralized cookies were offered to discerning customers. Jugs of papaya juice, surely not a standard on the 1950's breakfast tables, were also available for purchase. Groff's was to celebrate its grand reopening on October 28, 1955. The store had been in the same location in the Crystal Palace Shopping Center at 11th & Market Sts. for the past fifteen years. Owner Virgil Groff claimed his store had the largest supply of vitamins in Tacoma. Photograph ordered by Groff's Natural Foods. (TNT 10-27-55, A-8)
The Park 'N Shop Supermarket. The Park 'N Shop was owned by John Bussanich and Otto Marth. It had a distinctive dome style roof, a corner entrance and lots of parking. A refrigerated trailer outside holds ice. A delivery truck for Archway cookies is parked outside. At the forefront of one stop shopping, the store offered drugs, dry goods, groceries, meat, vegetables and prescriptions. This aided the busy housewife whose stops in earlier times would have included the butcher, green grocer and pharmacy.
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 Thriftway Park 'N Shop, formerly the Park 'N Shop, self serve meat department. The white aproned butcher holds a Carsten's fully cooked smoked ham in one hand and a Lynden turkey in the other. The signs on the display coolers advertise this week's special, steaks and pot roasts for 49 cents a pound. Mirrors reflect the containers of pre-packaged meats waiting for the shopping homemaker to take home.
The Patty Ann Bakery at the Thriftway Park 'N Shop, formerly the Park 'N Shop. Two bakery assistants in clean white uniforms pose, one holding freshly baked bread. The lighted glass display cabinets hold luscious looking cakes, doughnuts, cookies and pastries. Smiling jack o' lantern cutouts decorate the shelves, along with a palm tree look alike coming out of the planter box behind one woman's head.
The Highland Hills Big Bear store at 5915 6th Avenue, near Pearl Street, opened in 1955 to serve the growing West end, including the areas of University Place and Fircrest. The Big Bear was the first tenant of the Highland Hills Shopping Center, which had its Grand Opening in December of 1956. When completed, the shopping center had 21 stores with a pedestrian mall in the center and five acres of parking.
Big Bear Stores (Tacoma); Supermarkets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs;
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;
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;
The Highland Hills Big Bear store at 5915 6th Avenue, near Pearl Street, opened in 1955 to serve the growing West end, including the areas of University Place and Fircrest. The Big Bear was the first tenant of the Highland Hills Shopping Center, which had its Grand Opening in December of 1956. When completed, the shopping center had 21 stores with a pedestrian mall in the center and five acres of parking.
Big Bear Stores (Tacoma); Supermarkets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Grocery stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs;
