Nordstrom
- This is the page for the Nordstrom department store. For individuals by the name of Nordstrom see Nordstrom (disambiguation).
Company type | Department Store (NYSE: JWN) |
---|---|
Industry | Retail |
Founded | 1901 |
Headquarters | Seattle, Washington |
Products | Clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products, and housewares. |
Website | http://www.nordstrom.com/ |
Nordstrom, Inc. NYSE: JWN sells apparel, shoes, and accessories for men, women, and children, in brick-and-mortar stores and online. Nordstrom is an upscale department store in the United States. Corporate headquarters and the flagship store are in downtown Seattle, Washington.
History
The company was founded in 1901 as Wallin & Nordstrom by John W. Nordstrom, a Swedish immigrant who moved to the United States in 1887, and Carl Wallin, the owner of a Seattle shoe store, whom Nordstrom had met during the Klondike gold rush. Twenty-two years later, a second shoe store was opened.
By 1929, both Nordstrom and Wallin had retired and control of the company passed to Nordstrom's sons, Everett and Elmer.
Thirty-one years later, Nordstrom had expanded to eight stores in two states but still only sold shoes. Apparel came with its purchase of Best Apparel of Seattle in 1963. The company's name was changed to Nordstrom Best in 1966.
Five years later the company was taken public. (It currently trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol JWN.) In 1973, "Best" was dropped from the company's name. The company opened a .com fullfillment center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Currently, it has distribution centers in Ontario; Portland, Oregon; Dubuque, Iowa; Annapolis, Maryland; and Gainesville, Florida.
In 1998, Nordstrom replaced its downtown Seattle store with a new flagship location in the former Frederick & Nelson building across the street.
Nordstrom has opened an "ebar" coffeehouse in select stores (where Starbucks coffee products are served).
Expansion
Nordstrom has chosen to grow both methodically and organically over the years, eschewing the growth-for-growth's sake acquisitions of other companies, expanding to Alaska in 1975, Southern California only in 1978 (at South Coast Plaza), Northern California in 1982 (at Hillsdale Shopping Center), the East Coast in 1988 (at Tysons Corner Center), the Midwest in 1991 (at Oakbrook Center), Texas in 1996 (at Dallas Galleria) and the Southeast in 1998 (at Perimeter Mall). The company has generally preferred to build stores from the ground-up where possible, preferably at established centers. Proposed plans to expand in to more tertiary markets (Nashville, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Louisville) were cancelled after the economy slowed in 2000-2001 and Nordstrom retrenched and fine-tined its merchandising strategies. Unsubstantiated rumors of planned Nordstrom openings are frequently mentioned due to its desirability by city-officials, consumers and real estate developers (Battery City Park-Manhattan, Eastview Mall-Rochester, NY, St. James Town Center-Jacksonville, FL),
Customer service
Nordstrom is well-known for its customer service, so much so that several urban legends have appeared regarding the store. One of the best known legends was that Nordstrom graciously refunded the purchase price of a set of snow tires brought in by a customer, notwithstanding that Nordstrom did not sell--and has never sold--automotive products. The urban legend watch website Snopes has not been able to confirm or deny the authenticity of the story.
Employee handbook
New employees are given a copy of the famous Nordstrom's Employee Handbook -- a single 5 x 8 inch gray card containing 75 words:
Current Locations and Confirmed Future Locations
- Phoenix MSA
- Chandler Fashion Center, Chandler (opened 2001)
- Scottsdale Fashion Square, Scottsdale (opened 1998)
- San Francisco MSA
- Westfield San Francisco Centre (formerly San Francisco Shopping Centre), San Francisco (opened 1988)
- Stonestown (formerly Stonestown Galleria), San Francisco (opened 1988 in former Bullock's North location)
- The Village at Corte Madera, Corte Madera (opened 1985)
- Stoneridge Shopping Center, Pleasanton (opened 1990, scheduled to be replaced fall 2007)
- Hillsdale Shopping Center, San Mateo (opened 1982)
- Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek (opened 1984 in former Bullock's North location)
- San Jose MSA
- Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto (opened 1984 in former Bullock's location)
- Westfield Valley Fair, San Jose (opened 1987, replaced 2001)
- Sacramento MSA
- Arden Fair, Sacramento (opened 1989)
- Westfield Galleria at Roseville, Roseville (opened 2000)
- Los Angeles County MSA
- Westfield Santa Anita (formerly Santa Anita Fashion Park), Arcadia (opened 1994)
- Los Cerritos Shopping Center, Cerritos (opened 1981)
- Glendale Galleria, Glendale (opened 1983)
- Westfield Topanga (formerly Topanga Plaza) , Los Angeles (Canoga Park) (opened 1984, store being replaced October 6, 2006)
- The Grove, Los Angeles (Fairfax District) (opened 2002)
- Westside Pavilion, Los Angeles (Rancho Park) (opened 1985)
- South Bay Galleria (formerly The Galleria at South Bay), Redondo Beach (opened 1985)
- Orange County
- Brea Mall, Brea (opened 1979, replaced 1989)
- South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa (opened 1978, replaced 1986)
- Irvine Spectrum Center, Irvine (opened 2005)
- The Shops at Mission Viejo, Mission Viejo (opened 1999)
- Westfield MainPlace (formerly MainPlace Santa Ana), Santa Ana (opened 1987)
- Riverside/San Bernardino MSA
- San Diego MSA
- Westfield North County (formerly North County Fair), Escondido (opened 1986)
- Westfield Horton Plaza, San Diego (opened 1985)
- Fashion Valley Mall, San Diego (opened 1981, expanded 1998)
- Westfield UTC (formerly University Towne Centre), San Diego (opened 1984)
- Palm Springs MSA
- Westfield Palm Desert, Palm Desert (scheduled to open spring 2009)
- Santa Barbara MSA
- Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara (opened 1990)
- Ventura County MSA
- The Oaks Shopping Center, Thousand Oaks (scheduled to open fall 2008, mall redevelopment in flux)
- Denver MSA
- FlatIron Crossing, Broomfield (opened 2000)
- Cherry Creek Shopping Center, Denver (scheduled to open 2007)
- Park Meadows, Littleton (opened 1996)
- Hartford MSA
- Westfarms, Farmington (opened 1997)
- Naples MSA
- Waterside Shops at Pelican Bay, Naples (scheduled to open fall 2008)
- Orlando MSA
- The Florida Mall, Orlando (opened 2002)
- Tampa/St. Petersburg MSA
- International Plaza, Tampa (opened 2001)
- Miami/Fort Lauderdale/West Palm Beach MSA
- Aventura Mall, Aventura (scheduled to open fall 2007)
- The Village at Merrick Park, Coral Gables (opened 2002)
- Dadeland Mall, Miami (opened 2004)
- Town Center at Boca Raton, Boca Raton (opened 2000)
- The Gardens Mall, Palm Beach Gardens (opened 2006)
- The Mall at Wellington Green, Wellington (opened 2003)
- Atlanta MSA
- Phipps Plaza, Atlanta (opened 2005)
- Perimeter Mall, Atlanta (opened 1998)
- Mall of Georgia, Buford (opened 2000)
- Honolulu MSA
- Ala Moana Center, Honolulu (scheduled to open spring 2008)
- Victoria Ward Center Shoe Store, Honolulu
- Chicago MSA
- Westfield North Bridge (formerly The Shops at North Bridge), Chicago (opened 2000)
- Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook (opened 1991)
- Woodfield Center, Schaumburg (opened 1995)
- Westfield Old Orchard (formerly Old Orchard Shopping Center), Skokie (opened 1994)
- Indianapolis MSA
- Circle Centre, Indianapolis (opened 1995)
- Kansas City MSA
- Oak Park Mall, Overland Park (opened 1998)
- Baltimore MSA
- Westfield Annapolis (formerly Annapolis Mall), Annapolis (opened 1994)
- The Mall in Columbia, Columbia (opened 1999)
- Towson Town Center, Towson (opened 1992)
- Washington, D.C. MSA
- Westfield Montgomery (formerly Montgomery Mall), Bethesda (opened 1991)
- Boston MSA
- South Shore Plaza, Braintree (scheduled to open spring 200 on former Macy's/historic Jordan Marsh site)
- Burlington Mall, Burlington (scheduled to open spring 2008 on former Filene's site)
- Natick Mall, Natick (scheduled to open spring 2007)
- North Shore Mall, Peabody (scheduled to open spring 2008 on former Macy's/historic Jordan Marsh site)
- Detroit MSA
- Partridge Creek Fashion Park, Clinton Township (scheduled to open spring 2008)
- Twelve Oaks Mall, Novi (scheduled to open fall 2007)
- The Somerset Collection, Troy (opened 1996)
- Minneapolis/St. Paul MSA
- Mall of America, Bloomington (opened 1992)
- Las Vegas MSA
- Fashion Show, Las Vegas (opened 2002)
- New York MSA
- Menlo Park Mall, Edison (opened 1991)
- Freehold Raceway Mall, Freehold Borough (opened 1992)
- Westfield Garden State Plaza, Paramus (opened 1990)
- The Mall at Short Hills, Short Hills (opened 1995)
- New York MSA
- Roosevelt Field, Garden City, Long Island (opened 1997)
- The Mall at Oyster Bay, Syosset, Long Island (scheduled to open fall 2007)
- The Westchester, White Plains (opened 1995)
- Charlotte MSA
- Raleigh/Durham MSA
- The Streets at Southpoint, Durham (opened 2002)
- Cleveland MSA
- Beachwood Place, Beachwood (opened 1997)
- Columbus MSA
- Easton Town Center, Columbus (opened 2001)
- Portland MSA
- Downtown Portland, Portland (opened 1966)
- Lloyd Center, Portland (opened 1963)
- Clackamas Town Center, Portland (opened 1981)
- Washington Square, Tigard (opened 1974, replaced 1992)
- Salem MSA
- Salem Center, Salem (opened 1980)
- Philadelphia MSA
- The Plaza at King of Prussia, King of Prussia (opened 1996)
- Providence MSA
- Providence Place, Providence (opened 1999)
- Austin MSA
- Barton Creek Square, Austin (opened 2003)
- Dallas/Fort Worth MSA
- NorthPark Center, Dallas (opened 2005)
- Galleria Dallas (formerly Dallas Galleria), Dallas (opened 1996)
- Stonebriar Centre, Frisco (opened 2000)
- North East Mall, Hurst (opened 2001)
- Houston MSA
- The Galleria, Houston (opened 2003)
- San Antonio MSA
- The Shops at La Cantera, San Antonio (opened 2005)
- Provo MSA
- University Mall, Orem (opened 2002)
- Salt Lake City MSA
- Fashion Place, Murray (opened 1981)
- Crossroads Plaza, Salt Lake City (opened 1980, scheduled to be replaced 2008)
- Washington, D.C. MSA
- Tysons Corner Center, McLean (opened 1988)
- The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, Arlington (opened 1989)
- Dulles Town Center, Dulles (opened 2002)
- Richmond MSA
- Short Pump Town Center, Richmond (opened 2003)
- Norfolk/Virginia Beach MSA
- MacArthur Center, Norfolk (opened 1999)
- Seattle/Tacoma MSA
- Downtown Seattle (flagship), Seattle (opened 1963, replaced 1998 in former Frederick & Nelson)
- Northgate Mall, Seattle (opened 1965)
- Bellevue Square, Bellevue (opened 1967, expanded 1995)
- Alderwood Mall, Lynnwood (opened 1979, replaced 2003)
- Westfield Southcenter (formerly Southcenter Mall), Tukwila (opened 1968)
- Tacoma Mall, Tacoma (opened 1966)
- Spokane MSA
- River Park Square, Spokane (opened 1974, replaced freestanding Downtown Spokane location 1999)
- Portland MSA
- Westfield Vancouver (formerly Vancouver Mall), Vancouver (opened 1977)
Former Locations
- Alaska
- Fairbanks (freestanding), Fairbanks (opened 1975, closed 1989)
- California
- Oakridge Mall (now Westfield Oakridge), San Jose (opened 1985 in former Bullock's North location, closed 1994, replaced by Sears)
- Utah
- Ogden City Mall (mall demolished), Ogden, (opened 1982, closed 1999)
- Washington