Petaluma's 1941 Flagship Department Store
Back in 1941 when the recently-closed Couches Etc., furniture store first opened its doors to delighted Petaluma shoppers, the futuristic 'streamline moderne' design of this substantial downtown department store was all the rage in pre-war America.
People were looking for modernity and convenience and The Leader, as the department store was first known, was the answer to every local shopper's prayers!
That year proved to be a significant turning point in Petaluma, American and world history. As ordinary citizens of Petaluma went about their everyday shopping downtown, big things were happening elsewhere.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivered his famous Four Freedoms Speech and in his State of the Union Address and was sworn in for a third term.
Pearl Harbor was bombed. British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill made a worldwide radio broadcast pleading with America to show support in World War II.
As concerned Petalumans picked out socks and haberdashery in The Leader, on the corner of Kentucky and Western, the first FM Radio broadcast went out from Tennessee. Captain America Comics were launched and General Mills introduced Cheerios cereal as 'Cheeri Oats'!
Orson Welle's acclaimed Citizen Kane movie most probably made it on to the silver screen at the movie theater around the corner from The Leader and local folks would have gone nuts for Walt Disney's new Dumbo!
What a time that must have been, and one of considerable worry and concern and tightening of belts. For the Leader went out of business during the war time era and the store was purchased by the Carithers family in 1946.
These Petalumans knew exactly what they were doing with local business and operated the Carithers Department Store in that same, great location for some 40 years.
Local newspaper reports have highlighted the memories of many long-time Petalumans who shopped and worked in Carithers Department Store, with its full-time elevator operator and legendary Christmas tree, lighting up Kentucky and Western Avenue each December.
Couches Etc., also Petaluma family owned store, was the third owner of this historic store and has held title since 1986.
Now available for history to write an exciting new chapter in it's illustrious life, this solid, round-front flagship of Petaluma's downtown has unlimited potential as a Southern Sonoma County showcase for business, restaurant or retail. And for many modern-day Petalumans, a new department store downtown would suit us all just fine!
Take a virtual tour of the former Carithers Department Store and Couches Etc
