Nordstrom sets closing date for Northgate Mall store

Nordstrom at Northgate plans to close Friday, August 9 -- 59 years after it opened at the nation’s first suburban shopping center to be called a mall.

“This decision will allow us to focus on serving customers at nearby Nordstrom stores, including our Northgate Nordstrom Rack, as well as online,” a statement sent from Nordstrom’s Emily Sterken read.

Nearly all of Northgate’s original buildings are expected to be demolished for a redevelopment that includes a center for the Seattle NHL team, office space and two hotels.

Sterken said Nordstrom is working with each impacted employee to help them determine their next steps “and are confident we can help them each find other roles within Nordstrom.”

“We recently made significant investments to renovate our Downtown Seattle and Alderwood stores and are confident we’re well-positioned to serve customers in north Seattle.”

Nordstrom opened a shoe store in a different Northgate building in 1950, the year the company also expanded to Portland, Ore.

Nordstrom started selling clothing in 1963 after buying Best Apparel, which also had a Northgate location where the Bed Bath & Beyond is today. The company – which was originally Wallin & Nordstrom and later called Nordstroms when Northgate opened – was called Nordstrom Best from 1967 to 1973.

The first Nordstrom Rack started in 1973 in downtown Seattle. Nordstrom Rack opened at Northgate in fall 2012 after the Toys 'R' Us closed. The space was previously home to Ernst hardware following a 1965 expansion.

Macy’s announced in January that it would be closing the its Northgate store. The company first said it would close the store in 2020, but that end date was moved to mid-2019 earlier this year.

Macy’s cardholders were notified by email on Tuesday that Northgate was closing, but the message did not give a specific date. The store has been doing clearance sale for weeks.

Northgate had its ceremonial opening April 21, 1950, with the ribbon cutting at the Bon Marche, which became Bon-Macy’s in 2003 and Macy’s in 2005.

News of Northgate's development was announced on Feb. 22, 1948 when a corporation called the Suburban Company announced plans for the mall that cost $12 million – roughly $127 million today.

The planned redevelopment was reported on Aug. 27, 2018, after planning documents from Simon Property Group, Northgate's owner based in Indianapolis, were filed with the City of Seattle.

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