Nordstrom opens at Americana at Brand
One of Glendale’s original shopping attractions rolls out its fresh digs Friday, as high-end retailer Nordstrom unveils its new location in the Americana at Brand.
At 10 a.m. the store will open its doors after about 15 months of construction, welcoming customers to the three-story location.
The new Nordstrom is replacing the company’s store in the Glendale Galleria II, which closed on Wednesday after 30 years in business.
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FOR THE RECORD: A story that appeared on A1 on Sept. 20, 2013 (“Tailored to suit the times)” incorrectly stated the number of Nordstrom stores carrying the Topshop and Topman brands. It should have stated that 42 stores carry Topshop, and 18 stores carry Topman.
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At 135,000 square feet, the new location is slightly smaller than the 140,000-square-feet Nordstrom in the Galleria, but company president Blake Nordstrom, sitting in the new store’s shoe section on Thursday, said the structure was arranged to have floor space for merchandise.
“Thirty years ago, that store [in the Galleria] was our fourth in Southern California… it was our best effort,” he said. “Now we have 117 stores nationwide, and this is our best effort.”
Nordstrom, a fourth-generation member of the company’s founding family, said the move to the Americana was crucial as business had slowed in the Galleria, which was dealing with several major vacancies, including the former Mervyn’s on Brand that is now an under-construction Bloomingdale’s.
“It’s been challenging… walk around next door, it’s a stark comparison,” he said. “This [store] is a quantum leap.”
Nordstrom will be the largest retail tenant in the Americana, which is owned by Caruso Affiliated.
The company purchased the Galleria’s Nordstrom building in March 2011, facilitating the move. Caruso officials have said that there have been talks with potential new tenants for that property, but as yet nothing further has been announced.
The Americana store will employ the roughly 375 employees who were working in the Galleria location, according to Nordstrom spokesman John Bailey.
The new store will have features not found in its Galleria location such as a new “beauty spot” cosmetics department, the Bar Verde full-service restaurant and bar, and a redesigned lingerie department. In addition, the location is one of 28 Nordstrom stores nationwide to carry the popular British brands Topshop and Topman.
Store Hours: Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Entrances are on Caruso Avenue and via Colorado Street.
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