By September, 1957, shoppers could purchase groceries, clothing, household goods, tires, and now glasses at Lakewood's Villa Plaza Shopping Center. Binyon Optometrists opened a second store in the new Villa Plaza Shopping Center in late summer, 1957. They maintained their original Tacoma store at 9th & Broadway but chose to attract new customers in the suburban areas of Pierce County. The Villa Plaza branch was managed by Dr. Arthur L. Clark. It was close to Woolworth's and Foreman & Clark and appeared to occupy the same building as Richardson's Sportswear, Helen's, and Saunders Health Service. Binyon's believed itself to be the most modern in the Pacific Northwest and had new scientific equipment installed for eye exams. Binyon Optometrists was organized in 1913 by Dr. J.R. Binyon and had offices statewide. Photograph ordered by Binyon Optometrists. (TNT 9-22-57, A-8)

Binyon Optometrists (Lakewood); Opticians' shops--Lakewood; Facades--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood);

ca. 1957. Exterior of Ghilarducci's Villa Plaza Florists. Opened in 1957, Ghilarducci's newest store was located in the Villa Plaza Shopping Center in Lakewood. The firm had two other locations: one in downtown Tacoma and the other, Gilly's, also in Lakewood. The Villa Plaza store was managed by Charlotte Gronlund. (TNT Ad 6-2-57, D-7, alt. photographs)

Ghilarducci's Villa Plaza Florists (Lakewood); Florist shops--Lakewood; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;

A Globe Machine employee holds onto a large piece of machinery on October 15, 1957. It appears to be a giant roller of some type. Globe Machine was in the business of manufacturing machinery for veneer, plywood, and woodworking purposes. A number of machines had been damaged in transit; it is not clear whether this machine was one of them, or what the damage was supposed to be. Photograph ordered by Globe Machine Manufacturing Co.

Globe Machine Manufacturing Co. (Tacoma); Machinery; Machinery industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1957. Interior of Ghilarducci's Villa Plaza Florists. Ghilarducci's maintained their longtime flagship store in downtown Tacoma but chose to expand to the suburbs as that area grew in population. They offered the latest in refrigerated storage, ready to serve floral needs. One of the early occupants of the Villa Plaza Shopping Center, Ghilarducci's enlarged their shop there by October of 1957 to add a gift shop where assorted ceramic, brass and wood items and glassware could be purchased. (TNT Ad 6-2-57, D-7-alt. photograph; TNT Ad 10-13-57, D-4-alt. photograph)

Ghilarducci's Villa Plaza Florists (Lakewood); Florist shops--Lakewood; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Hopper-Kelly Co. of Tacoma specialized in pianos and organs but also sold other musical instruments, televisions and appliances. By 1957, they had been in Tacoma for 40 years. View of interior of store shows a display of Westinghouse televisions in the foreground, pianos and organs to the rear, and guitars, brass instruments, cases, and accessories on nearby counters. The store was located next door to the Bank of California on Pacific Avenue.

Hopper Kelly Co. (Tacoma); Music stores--Tacoma; Televisions--1950-1960;

ca. 1957. Ghilarducci's Villa Plaza Florists. Located in the newly opened Villa Plaza Shopping Center, Ghilarducci's store was was designed with large glass walls including a modern glass entrance so that the various flowers and gift items could easily be seen from the exterior. It was managed by Charlotte Gronlund and was the third Ghilarducci's Florists in Pierce County. (TNT Ad 6-2-57, D-7-alt. photograph)

Ghilarducci's Villa Plaza Florists (Lakewood); Florist shops--Lakewood; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;

The whole staff of the Tacoma Floor Company, along with their fleet of vehicles and their sanding and polishing equipment, posed for a group portrait in front of their business at 1319 Center Street on November 8, 1957. Tacoma Floor was owned by Leo Nelson and specialized in laying, sanding and refinishing hardwood floors. After the death of Mr. Nelson in 1958, at the age of 53, his wife Margaret managed the business for several years. (Photograph ordered by Tacoma Floor Co.)

Tacoma Floor Co. (Tacoma);

The Industrial Development Co., Inc., moved into new quarters near So. 38th and Pine Streets in late 1957. They were mechanical engineers formerly located on Chandler St. The firm was managed by Dale L. Schubert. View of modern, 14,000 square foot, one-story concrete and brick building faced with multiple windows but with an unpaved parking lot. The name of the company is in large letters on a brick wall. Industrial Development Co. specialized in designing automatic machines for the hardboard industry. They had projects worldwide. They engineered plant and product surveys, proposed plant layout and engineering, designed special automatic machinery and conveying systems. The firm had been in the Tacoma area for almost seven years. Photograph ordered by Industrial Development Co., Inc. (TNT 12-12-57, A-13)

Industrial Development Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Facades--Tacoma--1950-1960;

View of front entrance to new Industrial Development Co., Inc., offices; photograph was taken on December 15, 1957. Located near So. 38th & Pine Streets, the Industrial Development Co. was a firm of mechanical engineers managed by Dale L. Schubert. The 14,000 square foot brick & concrete building with front windows facing east was recently completed in late 1957, and would hold an open house on December 13. The roof over the front doorway apparently has lights as well as possibly circular skylights. Photograph ordered by Industrial Development Co., Inc. (TNT 12-12-57, A-13)

Industrial Development Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Facades--Tacoma--1950-1960;

In February of 1958, this group of young men was prepared for a long wait as they settle in before the closed doors of the Washington Hardware Co. store, 922-24 Pacific Ave. The store was having their annual Washington Birthday Sales and these teens may have camped out overnight. They are warmly dressed against the cold winter weather and have brought along the comforts of home: chairs, books, and food. Besides the lure of sporting goods and various hardware, the teenagers may have been attracted by the presence of KTAC radio which was broadcasting live from the sale. Photograph ordered by Washington Hardware Co.

Washington Hardware Co. (Tacoma); Shopping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Teenagers--Tacoma--1950-1960;

In a scene reminiscent of the day after Christmas, anxious crowds pour into the Washington Hardware store to snap up bargains in hardware and sporting goods. Even the cold, damp weather is not enough to deter shoppers attending Washington Hardware's Washington Birthday Sales in 1958. As the crowds push through the doors, young boys who had hopped onto the store's thin cement wall try to maneuver their way over the bodies of others. As an added attraction, KTAC would be broadcasting direct from within the store. Photograph ordered by Washington Hardware Co.

Washington Hardware Co. (Tacoma); Shopping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Crowds--Tacoma;

Washington Hardware Washington Birthday Sales. The cashiers stand ready before their registers as they await purchases at the 1958 Washington Hardware Co.'s Washington Birthday Sales. Some of the items bought would be destined for presents as three girls were prepared to gift wrap. The store is packed with customers, bargain hunters and just plain browsers. Moose and elk heads are mounted on the walls along with stuffed swordfish and birds. Guns, tools, and outdoor clothing are on display. Photograph ordered by Washington Hardware Co.

Washington Hardware Co. (Tacoma); Shopping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Crowds--Tacoma;

Washington Hardware's annual Washington Birthday Sales always drew large crowds. Even on a cold, damp, day people of all ages flocked to the Pacific Avenue location in anticipation of finding bargains in sporting goods and hardware. View of crowds milling about the two store entrances; photograph ordered by Washington Hardware Co.

Washington Hardware Co. (Tacoma); Shopping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Crowds--Tacoma;

Smoke drifts from a chimney toward the looming hills in Elbe on a rainy February day. The streets appear quiet with no visible traffic proceeding on the two-lane road. There are no cars outside the Chevron pumps at M. Gilliardi's Standard Oil station. A grocery store is further down the road across from a B & O boxcar. Elbe is a small community on the Nisqually River at the east end of Lake Alder in the south central section of Pierce County. Photograph ordered by Standard Oil Co. of California. TPL-8363

Standard Oil Co. of California (Elbe); Automobile service stations--Elbe; Signs (Notices);

Highland Hills Shopping Center. Originally called the Highland Hill Shopping Center, it was completed in 1956 and celebrated its grand opening on December 12, 1956. The Big Bear Market was its first tenant and had begun operations there in 1955. The city's West End was growing rapidly and it was felt that a shopping center would best fit the needs of the expanding community. Situated on Sixth Avenue near Pearl Street, it was centrally located for West End customers, including the University Place and Fircrest communities. Original tenants also included the Sun Drug Co., Roy's Shoe Repair, Lads and Lassies Clothing and the Highland Hill Barber Shop. Covered walkways protected customers from inclement weather; Highland Hill was planned as an up-to-date one-stop shopping center. Photograph ordered by the Condon Co. (TNT 12-11-56, B-2)

Highland Hills Shopping Center (Tacoma); Highland Hill Shopping Center (Tacoma); Shopping centers--Tacoma; Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Selden's, in 1956, had two convenient locations in the Tacoma area: one in the downtown area on Broadway and the other in the Lakewood Center. The store had made its name in being "first in floor coverings" but also offered interior decorating and electrical appliances. View of household appliances department at Selden's, including Frigidaire refrigerators and stoves and Moore heaters. Photograph ordered by Selden's.

Seldens, Inc. (Tacoma); Home furnishings stores--Tacoma--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Leed's Shoes exterior at Villa Plaza Shopping Center. Above the 12-foot canopy was cement stucco trimmed in redwood. There were two Leed's locations in the Tacoma area in 1957; one was at 938 Broadway in downtown Tacoma and the newest Leed's was situated at the Villa Plaza Shopping Center in Lakewood, next to the Rhodes Department Store. This view is believed to be of the front entrance to the shoe store. Most stores in the Villa Plaza had two entrances. The Villa Plaza Leed's, which handled exclusively women's shoes, hosiery and handbags, opened for business on April 4, 1957. Ellery Wybrow was promoted to store manager. (TNT 4-3-57, A-7-article)

Leed's Shoes (Lakewood); Shoe stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Exterior of new Leed's Shoes at the Villa Plaza Shopping Center. This is believed to be the back entrance to the shoe store; most of the stores in the new Villa Plaza had both back and front entrances. Leed's was located on the Rhodes and Grant department stores side of the promenade. In the Villa Plaza's first few months of existence, Leed's and Fashion Shoes were the only major shoe stores there. It celebrated its grand opening on Thursday, April 4, 1957.

Leed's Shoes (Lakewood); Shoe stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;

C & G Radio Supply were wholesalers of electronic equipment, televisions, and radio parts. Located in the 2500 block of Jefferson Avenue in the former Motor Truck Service Co. building since 1949, the large company was owned by Lloyd R. Norberg. The business had been operating in Tacoma since the 1930's. 33 employees lined up for a company picture on April 16, 1957. Photograph ordered by C & G Radio Supply Co.

C & G Radio Supply Co. (Tacoma); Stores & shops--Tacoma;

Interior of new Leed's Shoes at Villa Plaza Shopping Center. Leed's advertised QualiCraft shoes. In addition, purses, handbags and hosiery could be purchased there. The new suburban store opened on April 4, 1957, as the 197th QualiCraft store in the United States, the 59th on the Pacific Coast and second in Tacoma. The first Tacoma Leed's opened at 932 Broadway in 1937. The Villa Plaza Leed's was about 30 feet wide and 150 feet deep. Its ceilings and main wall were painted pale turquoise and beige and oyster-white textured tweed carpet was laid on the floor. Ellery Wybrow was named as the Villa Plaza Leed's first manager. (TNT 4-3-57, A-7-article)

Leed's Shoes (Lakewood); Shoe stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Expansive view of interior of new Leed's Shoes taken back to front. Leed's opened at the Villa Plaza Shopping Center on April 4, 1957. Located next to Rhodes, the new suburban store featured ladies shoes (primarily QualiCraft), hosiery and purses. This was the second Leed's in Tacoma with the first opening in downtown Tacoma in 1937. The 150-foot deep store used a blend of brick, glass, wood and stone in its construction. The stone was especially noticeable as the base for the hosiery, wrapping and cash counters. (TNT 4-3-57, A-7-article)

Leed's Shoes (Lakewood); Shoe stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Interior barbershop. Lyons opened a new barbershop on the grounds of Fort Lewis in May, 1957. This may have been the third Lyons Barber Shop on base. Customers are shown on May 27, 1957, getting close trims. A sergeant, haircut completed, receives change back from his barber. Photograph ordered by Lyons Barber Shop.

Barbershops--Fort Lewis; Barbers--Fort Lewis; Lyons Barber Shop (Fort Lewis);

The Villa Plaza Shopping Center, built on the grounds of the former 200-acre Visitation Villa, saw the opening of many new stores in the spring of 1957. Foreman & Clark, who specialized in fine men, women, and children's clothing, was one of the latest to celebrate its grand opening in early June, 1957. Besides offering clothing specials, bonus gifts for the family were also awarded. Credit was readily available with deferred payment until August. Foreman & Clark was a top clothing retailer with 90 stores coast-to-coast. The first Foreman & Clark store was opened in Los Angeles in 1909. It quickly built a reputation for excellent quality in its clothing line. Hal Miller would be the new Villa Plaza store manager. View of entrance to Foreman & Clark, with large store lettering, and overhanging roof. Photograph ordered by Foreman & Clark. (TNT 6-5-57, A-6)

Foreman & Clark (Lakewood); Clothing stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);

National clothiers Foreman & Clark opened up the latest in their 90 chain stores in the Villa Plaza Shopping Center on June 6, 1957. They were well-known for their fine quality men's, women's and children's line of clothing. Foreman & Clark's was established in Los Angeles in 1909 by W.A. Foreman. His policy of upstairs stores, low rental costs and inexpensive fixtures resulted in savings passed on to his customers in the form of quality merchandise at low prices. The Foreman & Clark chain ran from New York to California and then up to the Pacific Northwest. The Villa Plaza store had a prime location next to Rhodes Department Store. It was run by Hal Miller. This is probably the rear view of the store, taken on June 17, 1957. For another view, probably of the front, see A107266-1. Sepia photograph ordered by Walter Scott, Foreman & Clark. (TNT 6-5-57, A-6)

Foreman & Clark (Lakewood); Clothing stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Signs (Notices); Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood);

Just past the men's suits was the Forewyn Shop for Women located inside Foreman & Clark at the Villa Plaza. The latest fashions in suits, dresses, blouses and skirts could be found for the discerning shopper. While Foreman & Clark did not manufacture the women's clothing itself, as it did men and boys clothing, they made sure that the manufacturers chosen were worthy of the Forewyn name.

Foreman & Clark (Lakewood); Clothing stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Foreman & Clark clothing store at the new Villa Plaza Shopping Center. Foreman & Clark took out a full page ad in the News Tribune on June 5, 1957, proclaiming the "West's largest clothier coming to Tacoma." The chain, established in 1909 in Los Angeles by W.A. Foreman, had 90 stores from coast-to-coast. It celebrated a three-day grand opening on June 6-8, 1957, at the Villa Plaza Shopping Center. Foreman & Clark's manufactured its own men's and boys' clothing to keep prices low while offering the public well made articles of clothing. (TNT 6-5-57, A-7-article & ad)

Foreman & Clark (Lakewood); Clothing stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Window displays--Lakewood--1950-1960; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Large selection of men's suits at the new Foreman & Clark's clothing store in Lakewood's Villa Plaza Shopping Center. Foreman & Clark celebrated its grand opening with three days full of bargains on June 6-8, 1957. Men could purchase a 100% wool suit for only $39.90 and pick up a toggle car coat for $12.88. The firm manufactured its own men's and boys' clothing with men's sizes ranging from 34-50. Among the newest of 90 stores from coast-to-coast, the Villa Plaza location followed store policy of low rental expense and inexpensive fixtures so that quality merchandise could be manufactured while keeping costs low for shoppers. The Villa Plaza store was managed by Hal Miller who along with Byron W. Foreman, nephew of store founder W.A. Foreman and Walter Scott, regional manager, were present for the grand opening celebration. (TNT 6-5-57, A-6-article)

Foreman & Clark (Lakewood); Clothing stores--Lakewood--1950-1960; Merchandise displays--Lakewood--1950-1960; Suits (Clothing); Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Washington Cleaners and Launderers, Ft. Lewis. Washington Cleaners had its main dry cleaning and laundry plant in Tacoma, but it had seven branches at Fort Lewis to serve the military. This appears to be the interior of the main Fort Lewis branch, at 3rd & Pendleton. Several women stand behind the counter, taking orders and delivering the clean uniforms to their owners. Several uniformed military men lean in against the counter. Most of the competed hanging clothes are uniforms. (TNT 5/13/1956, pg. A-15)

Washington Cleaners and Launderers (Fort Lewis); Cleaning establishments--Fort Lewis;

Stanley Amusement Co.; exterior of building. The sign over the entrance reads "National shuffleboard sales company of Tacoma; Exclusive distributors for the entire state of Washington, USA." This structure was built in 1922. According to the 1956 City Directory, the company was owned by Stanley Kolitzoff and George Sellers.

Stanley Amusement Co. (Tacoma);

One business suited man hands something to another, possibly the keys to these new trucks for Washington Cleaners and Launderers. Drivers stand beside their new vehicles. Washington Cleaners offered pickup and delivery and would need a lot of vehicles. They also offered 24 hour service. Photographs ordered by South Tacoma Motor Company. Photograph used in advertisement for Washington Cleaners. TPL-2332 (TNT 5/13/1956, pg. A-15)

Washington Cleaners and Launderers (Tacoma); Cleaning establishments--Tacoma--1950-1960;