Store Spotlight on Nordstrom

When I was a kid, my mother would always park at a department store entrance to the mall (the majority of entry points are just that, after all.)  Walking in through those old-fashioned, all-purpose stores, a young Kristi would invariably ask wearily, “Where’s the real mall?”  Those mammoth microcosms still seem somehow removed from the mall, attached though the two may be.  In an attempt to penetrate their secrets, I first examine the most attractive.

Nordstrom is very familiar to me, being my own usual parking lot (though for no discernible reason.)  I also happen to find it the most appealing of the anchor stores.  While  just seems to scream back-to-school shopping and Sears is for hard goods, Nordstrom accords best with the current tone of the mall.  In its state as “fashion destination,” the whole property blends best with this upscale retailer.  Walking into this store, in short, feels least like walking out of the mall.

Once inside, Nordstrom is the kind of store where a lot of the wares are incredible to look at, but out of range to buy.  Though not entirely out of this world, it is certainly no Old Navy.  The store is prided on its variety of designer brands, including the droolworthy Free People section I must always pass to enter the realm of specialty stores.  These brands are divided neatly to make the three floors easily navigable:

On the lower level lay the men’s section, the shoes, jewelry, bags, and makeup.  The chain originated as a shoe retailer, and their devotion shows in that expansive selection.  The second floor is devoted to women’s wear, with divisions of casual, formal, work, and active attire.  Up on the third level are juniors’, children’s, lingerie, and of course, the Nordstrom Café.  The eatery within more strongly distinguishes Nordstrom as its own self-contained world.  It also hearkens to even more upscale stores, like Barneys’ Fred’s, making the property seem that much more elite.

It bears noting that unlike some of its kin, this department store is almost entirely in the business of clothes.  I’ve written before about how the Freehold Raceway Mall is increasingly focused on fashion, and the anchor stores stand as the exceptions that prove the rule.  Sears, JC Penney, and Macy’s all deal in some combination of home goods, mattresses, or appliances, hewing more closely to the old definition of a department store as a sort of one-stop shopping experience.  Nordstrom is more in keeping with the trend as they are essentially a much larger clothing retailer.

As for practice, Nordstrom is notorious for their indulgent staff and lenient policies.  A high-end store that can afford to stand on its good reputation, Nordstrom’s return policy seems gapingly open.  I’ve also found them entirely understanding and helpful with issues like damaged items, even if the damage was my own fault (a problem most other stores would agree was squarely mine.)  They make even the process of shopping luxuriant with both commission-driven salespeople and personal shoppers on staff. 

Though it may be more limited in variety than the other anchors, Nordstrom is an exemplar of the values the Freehold Raceway Mall now espouses: fashion, luxury, and panache.  Beneath the iconic simple typeface lies a designer haven that beckons in even the most stubborn specialty-store devotee.