John W. Nordstrom establishes the luxury department store Nordstrom, which would later become a prominent retail chain known for its high-end fashion and exceptional customer service.

In 1900, John W. Nordstrom married Hilda Carlson after returning to Seattle with wealth from the Klondike Gold Rush, setting the stage for his future business ventures.

John W. Nordstrom founded Nordstrom in 1901 in Seattle, WA, starting with full-line stores, off-price Nordstrom Rack stores, Jeffrey boutiques, and a clearance store named Last Chance.

By 1905, Nordstrom's annual sales had increased to $80,000.

In 1923, Nordstrom opened their second store in Seattle's University District.

In 1928, John W. Nordstrom retired and sold his shares in the business to his sons, marking a generational shift in the company's leadership.

In 1930, Nordstrom's shoe stores were renamed Nordstrom's, and despite the Great Depression, they made $250,000 in sales.

In 1933, John W. Nordstrom retired from the business and sold his shares to his sons, Everett and Elmer. This marked a transition in the ownership of the company.

In 1946, Wallin & Nordstrom was incorporated as Nordstrom, Inc., marking a period of growth for the company post-World War II.

In 1950, Nordstrom opened its first suburban store in Seattle's Northgate Mall, which was one of the world's first shopping malls.

By 1960, the downtown Seattle shoe shop had grown to become the largest shoe store in the country, with the company expanding to eight locations in Washington and Oregon, establishing itself as the largest independent shoe chain in the United States.

In 1963, Nordstrom Best chain began selling clothing, marking a significant expansion of the Nordstrom brand beyond shoes.

In 1966, Nordstrom expanded its offerings by introducing apparel to its stores, diversifying its product range beyond shoes and marking a significant evolution in the company's retail strategy.

In 1968, Nordstrom acquired Best Apparel, a two-door apparel retailer, which marked the beginning of offering shoes and apparel under the Nordstrom Best name.

In 1971, the three Nordstrom brothers handed over the company to the third generation, including Bruce, James, and John. The company was renamed Nordstrom Inc. and went public, marking a significant milestone in its history.

Two years after going public, Nordstrom's annual sales exceeded $100 million, solidifying its position as the largest fashion specialty store on the West Coast.

In 1974, Nordstrom diversified its business beyond stores.

In 1978, Nordstrom expanded outside the Northwest by opening a store at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California.

In 1980, Nordstrom introduced Nordstrom Rack, a discount retail division offering a wide range of products.

In 1985, Nordstrom surpassed the sales of Saks Fifth Avenue, becoming the largest specialty store chain in the country.

In 1988, Nordstrom inaugurated its first store on the East Coast, located in Virginia.

In 1990, Nordstrom faced allegations of violating labor laws by failing to pay employees for various duties, leading to cost-cutting measures and layoffs.

Nordstrom FSB, a subsidiary of Nordstrom, Inc., was formed in 1991 as a federally chartered savings bank.

In 1993, Nordstrom ventured into direct sales with the launch of a catalog division and later an e-commerce business.

In 1994, Nordstrom launched its first catalog, 'Nordstrom, The Catalogue,' entering the direct-mail segment of the women's apparel industry.

In 1995, Nordstrom opened its first store location in New York State at The Westchester in White Plains, a suburb of New York City.

In 1997, John Whitacre was appointed as the first non-Nordstrom CEO, marking a significant change in leadership for the company.

In 1998, Nordstrom launches its online platform, Nordstrom.com, expanding its reach and offering customers the convenience of shopping online.

In 1999, Nordstrom transitioned to the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol JWN.

In 2000, Nordstrom acquired Façonnable S.A., gaining control of the brand and its boutiques worldwide.

In 2006, Nordstrom acquires control of Jeffrey, a company known for its luxury boutiques in Atlanta and New York City.

In 2009, Nordstrom was ranked No. 72 in Fortune magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For. They have consistently been recognized on this list over the years.

In February 2011, Nordstrom announced the acquisition of HauteLook, an LA-based online retailer, expanding its offerings in designer goods.

In August 2011, Nordstrom opened the store Treasure & Bond in SoHo, New York, with all profits being donated to charity.

In 2012, Nordstrom became the sole major US retailer to offer a wide range of products from the renowned British fashion brands Topshop and Topman.

In December 2013, Women's Wear Daily reported Nordstrom as the top fashion retailer.

In 2014, Nordstrom reached an all-time high in total net sales, amounting to $13.1 billion. This demonstrated the company's continued growth and success in the retail industry.

Nordstrom opened a 138,000-square-foot store in The Mall of San Juan in San Juan, Puerto Rico in March 2015. The store faced water damage and temporary closure after Hurricane Maria in 2017, but reopened on November 9, 2018.

In September 2015, Nordstrom opened a new location at Ridgedale Center in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan region, expanding its presence in the area.

On February 2, 2017, Nordstrom announced it would stop carrying Ivanka Trump's branded fashion line due to weak sales. This decision was followed by a tweet from President Donald Trump condemning the brand's treatment of his daughter.

Nordstrom opened its first full-line store in New York City on April 12, 2018. The three-floor store is located at 57th Street and Broadway, in the Columbus Circle neighborhood.

Blake Nordstrom, co-president of Nordstrom, passed away suddenly on January 2, 2019, at the age of 58. He had been a lifelong employee of the company, rising through the ranks to become co-president.

On March 3, 2020, Erik Nordstrom took on the role of the sole CEO of Nordstrom. This marked a significant leadership change within the company.

Nordstrom began reopening stores on May 5, 2020, after temporary closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company also announced the permanent closure of sixteen locations by August.

In October 2021, Nordstrom announced an agreement with 11 Honoré, an online retailer of plus-sized designer fashion, to sell the company's clothing in Nordstrom stores and on their website.

As of June 2023, Nordstrom operates five flagship stores in four states, known for being smaller than competitors' flagship stores.

The copyright year for Nordstrom in 2024.