Ready To Rack ‘Em Nordstrom Prepares For Opening Of Discount Location At Northtown

That marked-down pair of Ferragamo shoes is waiting. Just a few steps away hang faux snakeskin jackets in a rainbow of colors. A parade of men’s jackets and pants line one wall. All are signs that Spokane’s new Nordstrom Rack store at NorthTown is ready to open.

Employees were putting finishing touches on the store Tuesday, unloading merchandise and installing signage in preparation for the Rack’s Friday morning opening. The new store has 25,000 square feet - two-and-one-half times as big as the former rack in the basement of the old downtown Nordstrom. The new store neighbors Barnes & Noble and the soon-to-open Regal Cinemas. Entry is through the mall.

“You had a minimal offering before because of the square footage of the other store,” said KC Shaffer, Nordstrom Rack division vice president. “Here we are able to offer Spokane a good selection.”

The shoe selection - about 25,000 pairs - remains much the same, but women’s and men’s clothing options are greatly expanded. Children’s clothing is now offered, and the accessories section is sizable.

The old Spokane Rack employed 25; the new one will have a staff of 90.

Shaffer said besides added space, the location was also preferable to downtown Spokane because of a favorable lease agreement with NorthTown owner JP Realty and the ability to reach Spokane shoppers who might not venture downtown.

“Some Rack stores are in close proximity to full-line stores and some are not,” she said. “Our goal here was to really take care of the greater Spokane area.”

Nationwide there are 33 Nordstrom Racks compared with 75 full-line Nordstrom stores. The company is opening two locations in Arizona and another near Chicago in October. Shaffer said the company plans to build Rack stores in the top 50 U.S. metropolitan markets. Though Spokane doesn’t fit that category, she said it wasn’t a difficult decision to reopen here.

“When we closed the old store, we had the option of not coming back,” she said, “but we have a very loyal following here and a commitment to serving the Spokane customer. We’re hoping that they remember us.”

Not all of the merchandise carried at Rack stores comes from the full-line stores. Though some is clearance merchandise, other items sold at Nordstrom Rack aren’t sold at the main stores. Other sources include vendors’ overstocked and end-of-season items. Merchandise is priced at 30-70 percent below regular retail prices.

When the Rack opens Friday, one shopper will get the chance to participate in a “Race for Values” promotion. The winner of the shopping spree will have 90 seconds to grab as much as $2,000 worth of merchandise, and then have the rest of the day to exchange any of the items.

Banana Republic, the latest member of the Gap family to hit Spokane, opens Friday at River Park Square.

“We make clothing for the modern, versatile wardrobe,” said Banana Republic spokeswoman Kim Sobel. “Our customers are looking for the comfort of a casual wardrobe while looking professional and fashionable.”

Banana Republic was founded in 1978 in Mill Valley, Calif., selling safari and military surplus clothing.

Gap Inc. purchased the company in 1983, expanding its product lines to include basic career and casual wear.

Banana Republic stores offer higher-priced fashions than Gap Inc.’s two other adult clothing divisions, Old Navy and The Gap.

Gap Inc. has struggled this year. Analysts blame an overemphasis on youth-oriented merchandise for lackluster sales.

While none of Gap’s divisions has done well this year, same-store sales have been better at the company’s Banana Republic stores - which have stuck with more traditional merchandise - than at its Gap and Old Navy stores. In August, U.S. Gap same-store sales were down 4 to 6 percent, Old Navy sales were down 23 to 27 percent and Banana Republic same-store sales were down 1 to 3 percent compared with August 1999.

“We offer seasonless basics that are available year-round, and new items with new fabrics and colors each season,” said Sobel. “The idea is to allow our customers to build a wardrobe that can last over time.”

Nationwide there are more than 300 Banana Republic stores, including six flagship stores.

Around town

Walgreen’s has opened three new Spokane stores, located at 15510 E. Sprague, 7905 N. Division and 2105 E. Wellesley. The Sprague and Division stores are open 24 hours each day. Building the new stores is part of Walgreen’s goal to replace its smaller “RxPress” locations with full-sized stores. The chain has 3,165 drugstores nationwide.