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.

John W. Nordstrom founds Nordstrom

John W. Nordstrom steps down from his role in the company, marking the end of his active involvement in the business he founded.

John W. Nordstrom retires

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.

Marriage of John W. Nordstrom

In 1901, John W. Nordstrom opened a shoe store with the belief that customers should receive the best service, selection, quality, and value.

Opening of John W. Nordstrom's Shoe Store

In 1901, John W. Nordstrom and shoemaker Carl F. Wallin opened their first store, Wallin & Nordstrom, on Fourth and Pike in Seattle.

Opening of Wallin & Nordstrom store

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.

Nordstrom Founded

In 1901, Wallin & Nordstrom shoe store was established in Seattle, marking the beginning of Nordstrom's history.

Founding of Wallin & Nordstrom shoe store

In 1901, John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin founded the Wallin & Nordstrom shoe store in Seattle, Washington, which later evolved into the Nordstrom luxury department store chain.

Nordstrom, Inc. was founded in 1901 by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin in Seattle, Washington. Initially a shoe retailer, the company has grown to offer a wide range of products including clothing, accessories, handbags, jewellery, cosmetics, and fragrances.

Founding of Nordstrom, Inc.

In 1901, John W. Nordstrom and Carl Wallin opened Wallin & Nordstrom, a small downtown shoe store in Seattle, marking the humble beginnings of what would later become Nordstrom, Inc.

Opening of Wallin & Nordstrom

In 1901, Swedish immigrant John W. Nordstrom founded Nordstrom as a shoe store in Seattle with only $5 in his pocket.

Nordstrom founded as a shoe store by John W. Nordstrom

Nordstrom was established in 1901 as a shoe store, with a focus on providing quality footwear to customers. This founding event laid the groundwork for the company's commitment to customer service and satisfaction.

Founding of Nordstrom as a shoe store

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

Annual Sales Increase to $80,000

In 1923, a second Nordstrom's shoe store was opened, expanding the presence of the Nordstrom brand in the retail market.

Opening of second Nordstrom's shoe store

In 1923, Nordstrom added a second store to cater to its devoted customer base.

Second Store Added

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

Opening of Nordstrom's second store

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.

Retirement of John W. Nordstrom

In 1928, John Nordstrom retired and sold his share of the company to his sons Everett and Elmer.

John Nordstrom Retires

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

Shoe Stores Renamed Nordstrom's

In the same year, Wallin sold his stake in the business to the Nordstrom family. This led to the consolidation of ownership and the formation of Nordstrom's.

Wallin sells stake to Nordstrom family

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.

John W. Nordstrom retires and his sons take over

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

Wallin & Nordstrom Incorporation

In 1950, Nordstrom expanded to Oregon, opening new shoe stores in Portland and a Seattle suburb.

Expansion to Oregon

In 1950, John W. Nordstrom's third son, Lloyd, joined the family business alongside his brothers. This added another member to the Nordstrom legacy.

Lloyd Nordstrom joins the family business

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

Nordstrom opens first suburban store in Northgate Mall

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.

Expansion of Nordstrom

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

Introduction of clothing by Nordstrom Best

In 1963, Nordstrom acquired Best's Apparel of Seattle, signaling its entry into the apparel market and leading to the renaming of the company to Nordstrom Best.

Acquisition of Best's Apparel of Seattle

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.

Introduction of Apparel at Nordstrom

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.

Nordstrom Acquires Best Apparel

In 1971, Nordstrom went public, offering shares to the public for the first time and earning significant profits.

Nordstrom Goes Public

In 1971, the company officially changed its name to Nordstrom, Inc. and became a publicly traded company. This marked a significant milestone in the company's history.

Nordstrom, Inc. Goes Public

In 1971, Nordstrom became a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ stock exchange.

Nordstrom goes public on NASDAQ

In 1971, Nordstrom Rack, the off-price retail division of Nordstrom, had its beginnings. This marked the start of a new venture for the company, offering discounted products to customers.

Nordstrom Rack's beginnings

In 1971, Nordstrom went public and officially changed its name to 'Nordstrom, Inc'.

Nordstrom goes public and renamed 'Nordstrom, Inc'

By 1971, Nordstrom had evolved into the full-line retailer that is known today, offering a wide range of products beyond shoes and clothing.

Evolution into Nordstrom full-line retailer

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.

Nordstrom Inc. goes public

In 1973, Nordstrom opened the first Nordstrom Rack in the basement of the Seattle store as a clearance center for full-line store merchandise.

First Nordstrom Rack opens in Seattle

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.

Nordstrom Becomes Largest Fashion Specialty Store on the West Coast

In 1973, Nordstrom's sales exceeded $100 million and Nordstrom Rack was established in the basement of the downtown Seattle Nordstrom store.

Launch of Nordstrom Rack

In 1973, Nordstrom changed its name to Nordstrom, Inc. as sales exceeded $100 million.

Name Change to Nordstrom, Inc.

In 1973, Nordstrom founded its off-price division, Nordstrom Rack, catering to a different market segment with discounted products.

Establishment of Nordstrom Rack division

In 1974, Nordstrom diversified its business beyond stores.

Nordstrom expands business beyond stores

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

Nordstrom opens store at South Coast Plaza

In 1978, Nordstrom inaugurated its first store in Southern California at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa.

Nordstrom opens first store in Southern California

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

By 1980, Nordstrom had become the third-largest specialty retailer in the US, following Saks Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor.

Becoming Third-Largest Specialty Retailer

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

Surpassing Sales of Saks Fifth Avenue

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

Nordstrom opens first East Coast store 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.

Labor Law Violations Allegation

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

Nordstrom FSB established

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

Nordstrom expands into direct sales

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

Launch of First Catalog

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

Opening of Nordstrom's First Store in New York State

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

Appointment of John Whitacre as First Non-Nordstrom CEO

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

Launch of Nordstrom.com

In 1998, Nordstrom expanded its catalog business and ventured into the internet space, opening new opportunities for sales.

Expansion of Catalog Business and Internet Venture

In 1998, Nordstrom expanded its presence by opening its first location in the Southeast at Perimeter Mall in Atlanta, Georgia.

Opening of Nordstrom's First Southeast Location in Atlanta

In 1998, Nordstrom replaced its downtown Seattle store with a new flagship location in the former Frederick & Nelson building, completing a two-year renovation.

Opening of Nordstrom's Flagship Location in Seattle

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

Nordstrom moves to NYSE as JWN

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

Acquisition of Façonnable S.A.

In 2000, the Nordstrom family reasserted its control over the company, with the sons of Bruce A. assuming senior roles.

Nordstrom Family Reasserts Control

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

Nordstrom buys control of Jeffrey

In 2006, Bruce and John Nordstrom retire from the company, leaving Blake Nordstrom to lead as president along with brothers Erik Nordstrom and Pete Nordstrom.

Bruce and John Nordstrom retire

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.

Nordstrom listed in Fortune magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For

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

Acquisition of HauteLook by Nordstrom

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

Opening of Treasure & Bond Store in SoHo

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.

Exclusive Retailer of Topshop and Topman

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

Nordstrom named top fashion retailer by Women's Wear Daily

Nordstrom expands its services by acquiring men’s personalized fashion service Trunk Club.

Nordstrom acquires Trunk Club

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 Achieves Record Total Net Sales

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.

Opening of Nordstrom store in The Mall of San Juan

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

Opening of Nordstrom Store in Minneapolis-Saint Paul

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 ceases to carry Ivanka Trump's branded fashion line

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.

Opening of Nordstrom's first full-line store in New York City

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.

Death of Blake Nordstrom

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.

Erik Nordstrom becomes sole CEO of Nordstrom

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.

Reopening of Nordstrom stores after COVID-19 closures

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.

Partnership with 11 Honoré for plus-sized designer fashion

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

Nordstrom operates five flagship stores

Nordstrom Future Copyright Year

Nordstrom, Inc. is a luxury department store chain founded in 1901. It started as a shoe store and expanded to selling clothing. Nordstrom now operates full-line and off-price divisions across the United States, competing with various retailers.

Nordstrom

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