ca. 1958. The Christmas shopping season was rapidly approaching and the Villa Plaza's Woolworth's was set for hordes of shoppers eager to stretch their dollars at the nation's premier five-and-dime store. Clothing for men, women and children could be purchased relatively inexpensively and still prove serviceable. An array of toys were on hand to delight youngsters on Christmas morning.
F.W. Woolworth Co. (Lakewood); Variety stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);
ca. 1958. Interior of Pacific 1st Federal Savings building, Villa Plaza. The 2000+ sq.ft. savings & loan opened at the Villa Plaza Shopping Center on January 2, 1958. It held an open house from January 2-10th. Tones of brown and gold decorated the building's interior. Its lobby had a white granite fireplace. Pacific 1st Federal was the largest savings & loan in the Northwest and served more than 57,000 families at the time. It had its main office in downtown Tacoma and branches elsewhere in Washington and Oregon. Rudolph J. Tollefson was the Villa Plaza location's first manager. He had been associated with the savings & loan since 1935 and prior to that had been employed by the University National Bank in Seattle and Bank of California in Tacoma. Mr. Tollefson was the brother of Congressman Thor Tollefson and Tacoma Mayor Harold Tollefson. (TNT 1-2-58, A-6-text only)
Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Lakewood); Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;
Ray Ridge Motors, Lincoln/Mercury dealer. New automobiles in showroom windows. Ford station wagon, Oldsmobile, 1958 Mercury, Chevrolet, small foreign car, likely a Simca, and Ford pickup truck at curb. From series, customers of KTVW-TV, Ch. 13.
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1950-1960; Ray Ridge Motors, Inc. (Tacoma); Television advertising;
ca. 1958. Comfortable waiting room of a beauty salon with receptionist's counter found at the Rhodes Villa Plaza department store mezzanine circa 1958. It was staffed with beauty experts, knowledgeable in the latest styles and methods. Rhodes was the first to open at the Villa Plaza Shopping Center when it welcomed customers in March of 1957. (TNT 8-7-57, B-8-alt. photograph)
Beauty shops--Lakewood--1950-1960; Rhodes Brothers Department Store (Lakewood); Department stores--Lakewood--1950-1960;
ca. 1958. Interior of Woolworth's at the Villa Plaza. The 15,000 square foot store was getting ready for the Christmas shopping season with decorated trees, assorted bulbs, and even ideas for the handyman on display. Woolworth's heavily promoted their wide aisles, flurorescent lighting, air conditioning and self-service shopping. Although Woolworth's maintained their large downtown store, they also sought to attract customers who lived outside the city limits by building a new store in the Villa Plaza Shopping Center. They joined fellow downtown giants J.C. Penny and Rhodes Brothers in this new concept of dozens of stores clustered in one shopping area with plenty of free parking. (TNT 5-8-57, A-8-article only)
F.W. Woolworth Co. (Lakewood); Variety stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;
ca. 1958. Lakewood's Firestone Store with neighboring Villa Plaza Garden Center. Firestone offered something for everyone...tires, televisions, bicycles and tricycles, housewares and household appliances, in addition to complete car service. Rather than flipping through magazines waiting for maintenance and/or repairs on their vehicles, families could spend that time perusing and perhaps purchasing non-automotive items for sale. Firestone was located in the SW portion of the new Villa Plaza Shopping Center.
Firestone Store (Lakewood); Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Lakewood; Villa Plaza Garden Center (Lakewood); Gardening equipment & supplies; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;
ca. 1958. Exterior - The Pantry, ca. 1958. Brick and wood formed the exterior of The Pantry restaurant in Lakewood's Villa Plaza Shopping Center. It was owned and operated by Eugene and Betty Sobolik and was one of the original 24 occupants of the Plaza, opening on Sunday, May 12, 1957. There was a flowering bed of plants and bushes positioned in a cement planter opposite the restaurant door. Located next to Rhodes Bros. Department Store, the Pantry advertised itself as the only complete dinner restaurant in the Villa Plaza. It featured roast prime sirloin of beef and homemade bread and pastries. The Pantry was a cafeteria until 4 pm and then became a restaurant for evening meals. The restaurant had a colonial-style atmosphere with maple furniture and accessories. It was accessible through Rhodes and the breezeway. The Villa Plaza Shopping Center continued to attract new businesses to their suburban location, including department stores, financial institutions and restaurants. Photograph ordered by the Villa Plaza Development. (TNT 1-30-59, p. 3- Ad, TNT 8-7-57, B-16; TNT 5-10-57, B-10-article)
ca. 1958. Exterior view of a newly constructed Pacific 1st Federal Savings building located in the Villa Plaza Shopping Center. A large outdoor clock would be later mounted above the lower roof extension. The financial institution opened their Villa Plaza branch on January 2, 1958. The 2000+ sq. foot structure had an exterior of pre-cast marble Mosaic and large roof-to-ground windows. It was designed by Tacoma architects Lea, Pearson & Richards. Pacific 1st Federal was the largest savings & loan in the Pacific Northwest with offices in Washington and Oregon. It served more than 57,000 families. Rudolph J. Tollefson of the well-known Tacoma family of Tollefsons was the first branch manager at the Villa Plaza location. He had been with Pacific 1st Federal since 1935. (TNT 1-2-58, A-6-text only)
Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;
Side view of Firestone Store. A good portion of the Villa Plaza Firestone Store was wall-to-wall glass so that shoppers could casually peruse the merchandise. The store had opened in August, 1957, and was the first Firestone in the nation to offer goods and services unrelated to automotive needs. Televisions, appliances, washers and dryers and gardening supplies could all be purchased at the Villa Plaza location. On January 10, 1959, power mowers were offered at one-third off regular prices and used washers and televisions were on sale. Clyde Ryder was the manager. Photograph ordered by the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., Los Angeles.
Firestone Store (Lakewood); Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Lakewood;
Besides offering complete car service, the Villa Plaza Firestone store sold household appliances and televisions. Used washers and TVs could also be purchased there. Firestone opened its Villa Plaza location in August, 1957, as the first Firestone store in the country to offer more than just automotive services and supplies. Gardening supplies and housewares were also available. The store did not neglect its primary customers, however, as it continued to offer free brake adjustments and free safety checks as incentives to bring cars in. Photograph ordered by Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., Los Angeles.
Firestone Store (Lakewood); Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Lakewood; Signs (Notices);
In February of 1959, the Original Pancake House, located in Lakewood at 3701 Steilacoom Blvd, was prepared to celebrate its grand opening after extensive remodeling. The restaurant was owned by Roy Rosenthal, Jr., and Morris Plotkin and was franchised through Smitty's Pancake House in Seattle. The building itself had been there since 1930 and was the former home of Pucci's Inn. There were eighteen varieties of pancakes always available. There were actually 120 kinds of pancakes on the list and the restaurant rotated its selection regularly. All pancakes were individually prepared and made from fresh ingredients. The owners did not use prepared mixes. The Original Pancake House was so confident of its cooking that it publicly announced a money-back guarantee if the diner was not satisfied. (TNT 2-13-59, p. 9)
Original Pancake House (Lakewood); Restaurants--Lakewood--1950-1960; Electric signs--Lakewood;
Groff's Natural Foods. Groff's was owned by Virgil Groff and offered vitamins and all natural foods to the discerning consumer. Groff stands at the entrance of his new store at 11th & Market. The store was formerly located in the same building, but moved to the space on the corner previously occupied by Frank's Jewelers. It was rebuilt with a new brick front, new flooring and lighting, window displays and entrances. Displayed in the windows are 100% pure honey and green Papaya juice for digestion. The interior color scheme was sunshine yellow and chlorophyll green. The oldest health food store in Tacoma, it was founded in 1928 as Thomson's Natural Food Store. Groff purchased the store in 1943 and expanded and modernized three times. The new store had a 3 1/2 ton walk in refrigerator to keep fresh natural foods and whole grains, also raw carrots for the juice extractor at the Juice Bar. Virg Groff was an energetic man who played handball and performed with the Tacoma Little Theatre. He claimed his success and energy came from "shots" of wheat germ and carrot juice consumed throughout the day. (TNT 2/19/1956, pg. A-5)
The newly expanded Block's Furniture Mart. A second story has been added, as well as a one story addition to the right. Block's sold new and used furniture and household appliances. They opened at this location at 82nd and South Tacoma Way 10 years prior with 1500 square feet of display space. The newly expanded store offered a spacious 27,000 square feet of display space. Payment terms were easy and the home delivery was free. A 10 piece living room suite was $189.50 or you could buy 3 complete rooms of fine furniture for $399. The store was also the new Kelvinator dealer; Kelvinator was the oldest manufacturer of electrical home appliances. The Grand Opening for the expanded store began on February 27, 1959 with drawings for free gifts. (TNT 2/27/1959, pg. 9)
Furniture stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Block's Furniture Mart (Lakewood); Appliance stores--Lakewood--1950-1960;
Jordan's Baking Co. at 54th and So. Washington. The bakery was celebrating its 23rd business birthday in 1959. Jordan's began in 1936 in Old Tacoma with 3 employees and one delivery truck. They moved in 1939 to this location in South Tacoma. In 1959, Jordan's employed 110 persons with a payroll exceeding $600,000 annually. Their number 1 product was Jordan's white bread. (TNT 4/7/1959, pg. C-20)
Exposure of architect's scale model for the new expansion at Busch's Restaurant, ordered by architect Percy Ball. Photograph shot near the Top of the Ocean. The remodel appears to include a two story interior dining room.
Drive-in restaurants--Tacoma; Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buschs Drive In (Tacoma); Architectural models;
Exposure of architect's scale model for the new expansion at Busch's Restaurant, ordered by architect Percy Ball. Photograph shot near the Top of the Ocean. The drive in restaurant with car hops located at 3505 South Tacoma Way was so enormously popular that Percy Ball was designing its enlargement.
Drive-in restaurants--Tacoma; Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buschs Drive In (Tacoma); Architectural models;
Exposure of architect's scale model for the new expansion at Busch's Restaurant, ordered by architect Percy Ball. Photograph shot near the Top of the Ocean. Through the power of photography, Buschs seems to have been magically transported from 3505 South Tacoma Way to Tacoma's waterfront. Clouds could have been added later through super imposition of Richards' stock footage.
Drive-in restaurants--Tacoma; Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buschs Drive In (Tacoma); Architectural models;
The personnel at National Blower and Sheet Metal Co., 1129 St. Paul Ave. The company was founded in 1890. President and vice president of the company were Dayton and Maurice Finnigan. The company designed and built ventilation, dust collecting and blower systems. They also did general sheet metal work and metal roofing. The company did much of the metal work on the new County-City Building. They installed roofing, sheet metal, ornamental steel and stainless steel. They fabricated and installed over 200 miles of duct work. The employees pose in the yard of the plant. (TNT 4/7/1959, pg. C-11)
National Blower & Sheet Metal Co. (Tacoma)--Employees;
Carsten- Hygrade employees pose in the yard at the meat packing facility at 1623 East "J" St. According to Richards Studio notes, the picture is of 300-400 people. The locally owned Carstens Meat Packing got its start in Tacoma in 1903. In 1954, it was sold to the Hygrade Food Products Corporation. In 1990, the company made the decision to close its Tacoma plant.
The Opera House at Steve' s Gay '90s Restaurant. The Opera House opened in 1956 and was the main entertainment venue at Steve's, where a full floor show was performed every Friday and Saturday night. Its crystal chandeliers came from the Seattle Opera House and its walls were adorned with photographs of the beautiful old homes of Tacoma. It was furnished with antiques gathered by owner Steve Pease at estate sales and auctions. In mid June of 1959, Steve's was celebrating its 10th anniversary with "continuous" entertainment Wednesday - Saturday. (TNT 6/16/1959, pg. 8-9)
Interior of the warehouse at Western Drug Supply at 3908 6th Ave. A roller conveyor belt circles around a Series 50 IBM model that appears to be printing orders. The orders go into the cardboard boxes and on down the belt to be filled. Many potted plants and flowers with cards attached have been sent to celebrate the warehouse's grand opening. This warehouse is the fifth in the firm's chain. Other distribution centers are located in Seattle, Spokane, Eugene and Sacramento. The warehouse supplies drugs to pharmacies. This location will serve Tacoma, Bremerton and all of southwest Washington. (TNT 8/5/1959, pg C-16, 9/27/1959, pg. B-5)
Western Drug Supply (Tacoma); Pharmaceutical industry--Tacoma; Medicines; Drugstores--Tacoma; Commercial facilities--Tacoma; Business enterprises--Tacoma;
Interior of the warehouse at Western Drug Supply at 3908 6th Ave. Packaged pharmaceuticals line the shelves. Orders are filled by placing the drugs in a carton and putting them on the small conveyor belt. The Supply Co. specialized in service to drug stores or pharmacies. This new warehouse was the fifth in the firm's chain and it would serve Tacoma, Bremerton and all of southwest Washington as far south as Longview. The warehouse was 6,000 square feet and employed 12. (TNT 8/5/1959, pg. C-16)
Western Drug Supply (Tacoma); Pharmaceutical industry--Tacoma; Medicines; Drugstores--Tacoma; Commercial facilities--Tacoma; Business enterprises--Tacoma;
The Esther Williams Girls are in Tacoma for publicity arranged by Ernie Grindley, advertising manager for the Washington Sports Shop. The bathing beauties also showcased foreign automobiles at the new showroom of Tom Carstens' Imported Motors, dealer for the Austin-Healey, MG. Jaguar, Porsche, and Morris 1000. Leaning against the sports car is believed to be Joel Hayes, Esther Williams executive. (TNT 8/2/1959, pg. A-10)
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Sports cars--English; Imported Motor Cars, Inc. (Tacoma); Publicity; Bathing beauties; Esther Williams Girls;
Esther Williams Girl poses on top of a sports car in front of Imported Motors Cars, Inc. The automobile is a Jaguar. Although the bathing beauty is not named; the driver of the Jaguar is Pat Martin, president of Scott-Martin, Inc. Scott-Martin was the Washington distributor of the "Esther Williams Living Pool" that the bathing beauties were in Tacoma to publicize. (TNT 8/2/1959, pg. A-10)
Automobile dealerships--Tacoma; Sports cars--English; Imported Motor Cars, Inc. (Tacoma); Publicity; Bathing beauties; Esther Williams Girls; Martin, Pat;
Siphorus L. Gates opened Si's Super Service gas station at 524 South Stadium Way in 1959. The short-lived station was built into a notch in the high bluff on the west side of Stadium Way. To the left of Si's in this photograph from August of 1959 is the back of the University Union Club, 529 Broadway. The Union Club was built in 1888 with a Greco Colonial design by Whidden & Lewis. TPL-10142
Si's Super Service Gas Station (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; University Union Club of Tacoma (Tacoma);
Five "metro mite" walk in delivery trucks built by International Harvester and their drivers were lined up in front of the Peerless Laundry at 2912 South 12th Street for a group portrait in August of 1959. Peerless, which was founded by Edward V. Hudson in the 1930s, performed dry cleaning, as well as personal and commercial laundry service. With their fleet of trucks, they did both pick up and deliveries to businesses and residences. This building was destroyed by fire in December, 1974. A new building was built in 1975; it also was destroyed by fire in 1988. Rebuilt yet again, Peerless Laundry is still on South 12th. TPL-9818
Peerless Laundry (Tacoma); Cleaning establishments--Tacoma; Trucks--1950-1960; International Harvester Co. (Tacoma);
Architect's pencil rendering of the new National Bank of Washington's Westgate branch at 2624 No. Pearl. As the area surrounding the Westgate mall was developed and the communities of University Place and the north end grew and expanded, businesses rushed in to serve this suburban community. The Westgate branch of the National Bank of Washington opened in 1960. It was designed by Lea, Pearson & Richards and built of concrete finished with zolotone. It featured a flat roofed one story design with lots of glass floor to ceiling windows and was 5,400 square feet in size. The bank had parking for 75 cars and a driveup window at the rear of the building. (TNT 8/23/1959, pg. B-8)
National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Puget Sound National Bank bookkeeping department on the 3rd floor of its home office. Although Puget Sound installed the first computer in 1959, much of the bookkeeping was still done by hand. A department staffed mostly by women is shown with a variety of manual equipment and customer records.
Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma)--People; Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Six "metro mite" walk in delivery unit trucks, ordered by International Harvester. The photograph is labelled "Supreme Cleaners." Supreme Cleaners was located at 1012 Center St. and was owned by Jack G. Hersey. The first truck is imprinted with "Tacoma's Linen Supply," commercial division. Their slogan is "the cleanest linen on the face of the Earth." Originally called Supreme Cleaners & Dyers, the company was now known as Supreme Cleaners & Launderers. The building at 1012 Center St. was first occupied by Regal Cleaners in 1917; Supreme occupied this location in 1934.
