University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
PH0521
Thompson's Drugs (Bellevue, Wash.)
Thompson's Drugs
Photograph Collection
approximately 1947
13 photographic prints ; 1
photographic print (postcard) ; 1 item (5 leaves)
Collection materials are in
English.
Chiefly
photographs of Thompson's Drugs, Bellevue, Washington, 1947, noted at the time
for its modern architecture. Images include exteriors, displays, cosmetics and
prescription counters, soda fountain, and magazine section.
Seattle pharmacist Albert C. Thompson and his son Albert Jr. opened
Thompson's Drugs as part of the new Bellevue Square shopping center in 1946.
The owner's sales expectations were exceeded by more than a third in the
store's first year, which they attributed to the ingenuity of the shopping
center's design. The new centralized shopping location accommodated more than
thirty different businesses and ample free parking, drawing shoppers from
Seattle and other environs as it provided an easy and convenient drive-up
shopping experience. Thompson's Drugs was recognized for its modern, appealing
architecture. Design efforts were focused on easy display of products. Large
plate-glass windows, along with a wide and shallow floor plan and walls and
aisles set at oblique angles to the front, made nearly everything in the store
easily visible. White ceilings, lightly colored walls, and generous lighting,
which came from 26 recessed bulbs, enhanced merchandise visibility. Mirrors
behind the soda fountain further extended the customers' view of wares.
The collection's black-and-white photographs show the modern design of
Thompson's Drugs, built in 1946 as part of the new Bellevue Square shopping
center in Bellevue, Washington. The images include window displays, cosmetics
and prescription counters, the soda fountain, and the magazine section. A
five-page typewritten text discussing the building's design accompanies the
photos.
View selections from the
collection in digital format
Selections from this collection can be viewed on the Libraries'
Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials curator required to
view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
Request at UW
Source: Fairlook Antiques, Seattle, November 1996.
Processed by Sarah Nelson, 2004.
Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
Thompson's Drugs (Bellevue, Wash.)
Bellevue (Wash.)--Buildings, structures, etc.--Photographs
Drugstores--Washington (State)--Bellevue--Photographs
Show windows--Washington (State)--Bellevue--Photographs
Soda fountains--Washington (State)--Bellevue--Photographs
Modern movement (Architecture)--Washington (State)--Bellevue
Commercial buildings--Washington (State)--Bellevue--Photographs
Washington (State)
Photographs
Business, Industry, and Labor
Architecture
Businesses and Corporations
1
1
Postcard of
Bellevue Shopping Center and parking lot showing Kandy Kane Restaurant and
Bell-Vue Theatre
1947?
1
2
Thompson's Drugs
with plate-glass windows and jewel-case displays
1947?
1
3-5
Nighttime view
from sidewalk of lit jewel-case displays, including Carnation Ice
Cream
1947?
1
6
Close-up view of
jewel-case fingernail polish display
1947?
1
7
View through open
front door of Holiday magazine display in
entryway
1947?
1
8
Close-up of
display of Holiday magazine featuring state of
Washington
1947?
1
9
View through
plate-glass windows of well-lit drugstore interior
1947?
1
10
Cosmetics counter
in drugstore
1947?
1
11
Shelves and
displays of merchandise in drugstore
1947?
1
12
Prescriptions
counter in drugstore
1947?
1
13
Patrons seated at
soda fountain in drugstore
1947?
1
14
Party or grand
opening in drugstore
1947?
1
15
Typewritten essay
by Edward R. Lucas about Thompson's Drugs
1947?
Discusses the modern design elements of the popular drugstore.