Chubby & Tubby

Old-Fashioned and Comfortable

On Saturday, November 22, 1947, a war-surplus shop called Chubby & Tubby holds its Grand Opening in Seattle. Initially based in a set of metal military Quonset huts on a corner lot in Seattle’s Rainier Valley neighborhood. The store had actually been open for about five weeks. It seems that the two rotund owners, Woodrow (“Woody”) “Tubby” Auge (d. 1989) and Irvin “Chubby” Frese (d. 1997,) still had a few organizational wrinkles to iron out before making things official. In fact for those first five start-up weeks the company was actually called “Tubby & Chubby.” About four years later they were able to expand into a three-store chain with new outlets near Green Lake and down south in White center.

The cluttered aisles held discounted goods ranging from rock ‘n’ roll records to toys, camping gear to kitchen wares, and tools to basic apparel. The original Rainier shop got the grunge rock seal-of-approval when the late leader of Nirvana, Kurt Cobain (1967-1994) reportedly shopped for his trademark flannel shirts there.

Seattle Misses You!

Chubby & Tubby
3333 Rainier Avenue S.
Seattle, WA

Closed in 2003

Chubby & Tubby t-shirts from Seattle, WA and Desteenation are made in the U.S.A. with ultra soft 100% cotton. Our water-based inks leave a soft-hand feel on these t-shirts. Guaranteed to fade over time.