Interior view of redecorated Spellman's Buster Brown Shoe Store, 1122-28 Broadway, circa 1939. Walls lined with shelves filled with shoe boxes, chairs running down the center for customers to sit and try on shoes. Buster Brown Shoes had opened their store in the David Gross Block building in 1924. In 1933, it became Spellman's, owned and managed by William and J. B. Spellman. In 1934, brother J. A. Spellman also joined the company. By 1939, the brothers owned and operated four other shoe stores in the Northwest. Spellman's Shoe Store closed on Broadway around 1966.(filed with Argentum) (TT 3/7/1939, pg.7)

Spellman's Buster Brown Shoe Store (Tacoma); Shoe stores--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Buster Brown Shoes interior and exterior. The first Buster Brown Shoe Store opened in Tacoma in 1915. William Spellman bought the Tacoma store in 1933, he also owns other stores throughout Washington and Oregon. Interior view of Buster Brown's Shoe Store, shoes are stacked along walls and in center display aisle.

Shoe stores--Tacoma--1940-1950; Shoes; Merchandise displays--Tacoma; Showrooms--Tacoma; Spellman's Buster Brown Shoe Store (Tacoma);

This photograph of Spellman's Buster Brown Shoe Store, at 1122 Broadway, was taken in March 1946. The first Buster Brown Shoe Store opened in Tacoma in 1915. William and J. B. Spellman bought the Tacoma store in 1933. They were joined by a third brother, J. A. Spellman in 1934. The brothers eventually owned stores in Bellingham, Bremerton, Vancouver Washington, and Portland Oregon. Spellman's Shoe Store went out of business in the late 1960s.

Shoe stores--Tacoma; Window displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Signs (Notices); Spellman's Buster Brown Shoe Store (Tacoma);

The interior of the recently remodeled Spellman's Buster Brown Shoe Store is pictured in this March, 1953, photograph. The long, narrow store is brightly lit, with rows of comfortable chairs for waiting customers. There are shelves full of boxed shoes for easy accessibility. They may not have used a storeroom since there are boxes of shoes even behind the cash register counters. Spellman's had two locations in Tacoma, one on Broadway and the other on South Tacoma Way. They were both owned by Jerry I. Spellman, with the 1953 City Directory also listing Eugene Pease as co-owner of the South Tacoma Way store.

Spellmans Buster Brown Shoe Store (Tacoma); Shoe stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Shoes;

Spellman's Buster Brown Shoe Store was located at 1122 Broadway; it had been there for many years and remodeled several times. The store would present its latest remodeling in March, 1953. Night exposure of Spellman's, with neon signs indicating Buster Brown, Roblee and Air Step shoes were sold within. It had a recessed covered entry with large display windows on both sides.

Spellmans Buster Brown Shoe Store (Tacoma); Shoe stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Storefronts--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;