ca. 1979. Views in 1979 of the 2400 Block of Pacific Ave. On the left is 2401-05 Pacific, home in 1979 to the 24th St. Tavern. The building was constructed in 1927 as a store, designed by Heath, Gove & Bell, architects. On the right is the Hotel Merkle, 2407-09 Pacific. The building was built in 1913 and designed by Darmer & Cutting.

Hotel Merkle (Tacoma); 24th St. Tavern (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1979. The Carlton Hotel, circa 1979. The Carlton was built in 1909 by Anton Huth, from a design by architect C.A. Darmer. The hotel was also home to the Barbary Coast restaurant.

Carlton Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma;

ca. 1979. A hand-lettered sign in the window above a boarded up pane advertises the location as "Kurt's Carpet," address unknown, while a more substantial sign notifies passerbys that the store is patrolled by K-9 Police dogs.

Security systems; Kurt's Carpet (Tacoma);

ca. 1979. Photograph, circa 1979, of the C St. Cafe, top of building and signage. In the background is the tower and the top of the Carling (previously the Heidelberg) Brewery Co. at 2120-32 So. C St.

C St. Cafe (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1979. Architectural detail on the Carlton Hotel, circa 1979. The Carlton was built in 1909 by Anton Huth, from a design by architect C.A. Darmer.

Carlton Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma;

ca. 1979. Sign with Chief's head graphics for "Ladies' Nite" on every Tuesday. All drinks 75 cents, pitchers 2.00.

Bars;

ca. 1979. West side of the 700 Block of Pacific Ave. Left to right: partial view of 732 Pacific, the Viant & Pierce Building at 728-30, Johnson Cox Co. structure including Casino Bldg. (with bay windows) at 726, Mrs. McCarver Building at 724 and L.M. Root Bldg. at 722 and Fife's Wholesale Block, 718-20 Pacific, home in 1979 to Morley Studios. In 2007, most of these buildings house offices.

Johnson Cox Co. (Tacoma); Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980; Building deterioration--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1979. This photograph taken in 1979 shows the neon sign and store front of Tryfon Hatters, a men's hat store located at 944 Commerce.

Tryfon Hatters (Tacoma);

ca. 1979. A curved staircase leads down from the ground level to the fountain level of the Bank of Washington Plaza, 1201-23 Pacific Ave., in this 1979 photograph. Structure was built in 1970; Lea, Pearson and Richards, architects.

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Fountains--Tacoma; Stairways--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1979. The skyline in 1979 was adorned with the ornate turrets of the Samson Hotel, 1152-56 Fawcett Ave. It was built in 1889 and designed by F.A. Sexton, architect. The Hotel was converted to apartments in 1928. After several fires, the building was demolished in 1989. The site, in 2007, is a vacant lot.

Samson Hotel (Tacoma); Apartment houses--Tacoma;

ca. 1979. The skyline in 1979 was adorned with the ornate turrets of the Samson Hotel, 1152-56 Fawcett Ave. It was built in 1889 and designed by F.A. Sexton, architect. The Hotel was converted to apartments in 1928. After several fires, the building was demolished in 1989. The site, in 2007, is a vacant lot.

Samson Hotel (Tacoma); Apartment houses--Tacoma;

ca. 1979. Carlton Hotel, circa 1979. The Carlton was built in 1909 by Anton Huth, from a design by architect C.A. Darmer. The sign on the side of the building advertises it as the Earle Hotel, a name used previously.

Carlton Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma;

ca. 1979. Carlton Hotel, circa 1979. The Carlton was built in 1909 by Anton Huth, from a design by architect C.A. Darmer.

Carlton Hotel (Tacoma); Hotels--Tacoma;

ca. 1979. Jerry's Adult Book Store, 1305 Commerce St.; Jerry Holt, owner.

Jerry's Adult Book Store (Tacoma);

ca. 1979. Tutor Craft Interiors at 1531 Market.

Fabric shops--Tacoma; Draperies; Textiles; Tutor Craft Co. (Tacoma);

ca. 1979. Architectural detail on the Samson Hotel, 1152-56 Fawcett Ave.

Samson Hotel (Tacoma); Apartment houses--Tacoma;

ca. 1979. The skyline in 1979 was adorned with the ornate turrets of the Samson Hotel, 1152-56 Fawcett Ave. It was built in 1889 and designed by F.A. Sexton, architect. The Hotel was converted to apartments in 1928. After several fires, the building was demolished in 1989. The site, in 2007, is a vacant lot.

Samson Hotel (Tacoma); Apartment houses--Tacoma;

ca. 1979. View of native American style graphics on the window glass of the Anchor Tavern, 1352 Pacific Ave., as well as a neon representation of the emblem for Rainier Beer. The Tavern was located in the former McCormack Bro. Department Store, 1348-56 Pacific Ave, in 1979. McCormack Bro. was located in the Baker-Dickson Building; constructed in 1911, Russell & Babcock, architects. The building was demolished in 2003.

Anchor Tavern (Tacoma);

ca. 1979. The gaily striped awning decorates the exterior of Tutor Craft Interiors at 1531 Market St. In 1979, a newly remodeled store had opened following a disastrous fire in Jan. of 1978. The business had opened in 1944 and specialized in custom draperies.

Fabric shops--Tacoma; Draperies; Textiles; Tutor Craft Co. (Tacoma);

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.

Hillside Grocery (Tacoma); Grocery stores--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Back of Photo:
Many Asian businesses can be found along South Tacoma Way.
Story by Dorian Smith
Photo by Bill Hunter

“Signs in two languages light up the Royal Box in South Tacoma.” There were seven Korean nightclubs along South Tacoma Way and Pacific Highway NW, possibly making the highest concentration of Korean nightclubs on the West Coast according to the New Tribune. Along with serving food and drinks, they served as cultural meeting places for Tacoma’s Korean community.

Back of Photo:
Old Barnacle Bill's Leveled- A longtime Tacoma waterfront landmark, Barnacle Bill's Cafe at the intersection of 11th Street and Port of Tacoma Road, was leveled early last week. The structure has been a cafe since the 1930s and was moved to the site from across 11th Street in 1941, according to owner Ben Erhart, who bought the establishment in 1950. The cleared site will be developed as a parking lot for the new, enlarged Barnacle Bill's, which has opened its doors to the rear of the site.

Back of Photo:
Restaurants and Nightclubs

Two people hold toast with glasses of wine in front of windows overlooking the water. A wine menu on the table says, "The Cliff House."

Staples at Steve's Gay '90s restaurant, 54th & South Tacoma Way, were his talented staff who entertained diners on weekends in the Gay '90s Revue, providing fun for the entire family. Gathered around the newly restored Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ in October of 1971 were believed to be Dorothy Jean, "gay '90s queen;" Mr. Banjo, Ray Johnston; Bob Shonack & his Cable Car Conductors; and Steve's trio of can-can dancers. Diners were invited to enjoy the clean entertainment while devouring Steve's " mile long smorgasbord" for $3.80. Photograph ordered by Steve's Gay '90s. (TNT ad 9-3-71, p. 8; TNT ad 11-5-71, p. 11) TPL-6700

Steve's Gay '90s (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1970-1980; Organs; Entertainers--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Interior view of Seattle-First National Bank Highland Hills branch, taken on day of bank dedication, December 9, 1972. The bank has yet to open formally for business but this is the view that customers would see when they walked through the large glass doors of the contemporary designed bank. There is a feeling of openness with the lack of cubicles or cages and the use of "natural" earthtones in the decor. Sea-First had moved its Sixth Ave. branch from Sixth & "L" to the Highland Hills area on Sixth. There would be 3,720 sq. feet of bank space in the brick and cedar building. Color photograph ordered by Seattle-First National Bank. (TNT 4-30-72, D-12- article on new bank plans)

Banks--Tacoma; Seattle-First National Bank (Tacoma); Building dedications--Tacoma--1970-1980;

This view is believed to have been taken from the 4-story Doric Tacoma Motor Hotel, 242 Saint Helens Ave., on July 28, 1972. Hotel guests would have a magnificent view of Commencement Bay. Directly below the Doric Tacoma Motor Hotel is the Sky Terrace, an 8-story apartment house. Color photograph ordered by the Doric Tacoma Motor Hotel.

Doric Tacoma Motor Hotel (Tacoma); Sky Terrace Apartments (Tacoma); Commencement Bay (Wash.);

Parking lot at new Kmart. Hundreds of shoppers would be gathering at the site of the new Kmart at 100th & Bridgeport Way a bit later in the morning of July 20, 1972. when store #4467 would be hosting its grand opening. This empty parking lot, capable of holding 700 cars, would not be empty for long. This would be the 11th Kmart in Washington State and third in the Tacoma-area. Photograph ordered by SS Kresge Co. (TNT 8-25-71, A-1- article; TNT Ad 7-16-72, A-4; TNT 7-19-72, A-2 -article; TNT 7-21-72, A-9-article);

Kmart (Lakewood); Department stores--Lakewood--1970-1980; Parking lots--Lakewood;

Interior view of new Kmart store. "Satisfaction Always" promised a large Kmart sign hanging from the ceiling of the new Kmart store located at 100th & Bridgeport Way in Lakewood. It opened for business on Thursday, July 20, 1972. Situated on 11 acres on 100th St., the location was the former home of prominent Tacoman Dr. Christian Quevli which was destroyed by fire in the 1930's. Both the exterior and interior of the new store were similar to other Tacoma-area Kmarts: brick exteriors with long lines and interiors that were brightly lit and divided into jewelry, clothing, sporting goods, appliances, household goods and other departments. The Lakewood Kmart had 84,000 square feet of space. Photograph ordered by SS Kresge Co. (TNT 8-25-71, A-1-article; TNT ad 7-16-72, A-4; TNT 7-19-72, A-2-article; TNT 7-21-72, A-9-article)

Kmart (Lakewood); Department stores--Lakewood--1970-1980; Signs (Notices);

Copy of customer print. Executives of Tacoma Boatbuilding pose outside their Marine View Dr. plant in this undated photograph. The shipbuilding company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Associated Venture Capital, Inc., with the exchange of stock by shareholders in March of 1972. Tacoma Boatbuilding would retain its name. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Boatbuilding. (TNT 3-21-72, p. 1- article on acquisition)

Tacoma Boat Building Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Boat & ship industry--Tacoma--1970-1980;