Totem poles are monumental sculptures carved from large trees, mostly Western Red Cedar, by cultures of the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America. The word totem is derived from the Ojibwe word odoodem, "his kinship group".
The location nearby was once known as Tote'm Stores since customers "toted" away their purchases, and some even sported genuine Alaskan totem poles in front.
In 1946, the name Tote'm was changed to to reflect the stores' new, extended hours which was almost unheard of at that time.
The company's corporate name would change later on in 1999 and it has remained that name ever since.