Ralph’s Thriftway

Location: 1908 4th Ave E
mid-Century modern

Ralph’s Thriftway, 1958, Susan Parish Collection, Southwest Regional Archives

Ralph’s Thriftway today (2014), photo by Deb Ross

Ralph’s Thriftway opened at its present location between Fourth and State Avenues in 1956. It was a showcase for the very latest in grocery stores. It was also one of the largest stores in the northwest, and included a children’s play area, clothing department, and two leased areas, Bailey Pharmacy and Blue Ribbon Meats. This photograph, taken in 1958, shows the soda fountain and the pharmacy.

Prior to Ralph’s, this was the home of Apex Grocery. See Workingman’s Hill, page 24.

Additional resources:

mid-Century Modern Context Statement, City of Olympia

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