Nordstrom, Inc.
Company History
Nordstrom History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1901 in Seattle, Washington, United States
When was Nordstrom founded?
Nordstrom was founded in 1901 in Seattle, Washington, United States by John W. Nordstrom and Carl Wallin, making it 125 years old.
- Founded
- 1901
- Founding place
- Seattle, Washington, United States
- Founders
- John W. Nordstrom and Carl Wallin
- Headquarters today
- Seattle, Washington
- Milestones documented
- 11 (1901–2026)
- Current CEO
- Erik Nordstrom and Pete Nordstrom (co-CEOs)
- Acquisitions
- 4
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1901 | First Shoe Store Opens in Seattle |
| 1963 | Expansion into Apparel |
| 1973 | Launch of Nordstrom Rack |
| 2011 | Acquisition of HauteLook |
| 2014 | Trunk Club Acquisition |
| 2014 | First Canadian Store |
| 2023 | Exit from Canadian Market |
| 2024 | Last Public Fiscal Year: $15.0 Billion Revenue |
| 2025 | Nordstrom Goes Private |
| 2025 | Erik and Pete Nordstrom Become Co-CEOs |
| 2026 | 125th Anniversary and Rack Expansion |
- Where was Nordstrom founded?
- Nordstrom was founded in Seattle, Washington, United States in 1901.
- Who founded Nordstrom?
- Nordstrom was founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl Wallin.
- When did Nordstrom start?
- Nordstrom was founded in 1901.
- How old is Nordstrom?
- Nordstrom is 125 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
John W. Nordstrom left Sweden for the United States as a teenager, worked in mines and logging camps, and joined the Klondike Gold Rush in 1897, returning with about $13,000. In 1901 he and Carl Wallin, a shoemaker he had met in Alaska, opened Wallin & Nordstrom, a shoe store in downtown Seattle. The store's focus on wide size selection and careful fitting became the base of Nordstrom's service culture. His sons bought out the founders in the late 1920s and later grew the chain into a large independent U.S. shoe retailer before adding apparel in 1963.
Founders
John W. Nordstrom
John W. Nordstrom emigrated from Sweden to the United States as a teenager and worked in mines and logging camps before joining the Klondike Gold Rush in 1897. He used his gold earnings to open Wallin & Nordstrom, a Seattle shoe store, with Carl Wallin in 1901. The store's emphasis on fit, selection, and service shaped the company's culture. He sold his stake to his sons in the late 1920s, and his descendants still run the company. John W. Nordstrom was born in 1871 in Alvik.
Carl Wallin
Carl Wallin was a shoemaker who partnered with John W. Nordstrom to open Wallin & Nordstrom in Seattle in 1901, bringing the footwear expertise while Nordstrom brought capital from the Klondike. Wallin later sold his share to Nordstrom's sons, and the business took the Nordstrom name. (Exact birth year remains publicly undisclosed).
Key Milestones
First Shoe Store Opens in Seattle
John W. Nordstrom and Carl Wallin open Wallin & Nordstrom, a shoe store in downtown Seattle.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgExpansion into Apparel
Nordstrom bought Seattle women's clothing retailer Best's Apparel, moving beyond shoes into apparel and laying the foundation for the full-line department store.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgLaunch of Nordstrom Rack
The first Nordstrom Rack opens in Seattle as a clearance outlet for full-line merchandise, the start of the off-price business.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgAcquisition of HauteLook
Nordstrom acquired flash-sale site HauteLook for about $180 million in stock plus a potential earn-out, expanding its online off-price business.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgTrunk Club Acquisition
Nordstrom acquired Trunk Club in 2014 as a digital personal-styling bet, later wound down the standalone brand in fiscal 2022, and continued personal styling through Nordstrom channels.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgFirst Canadian Store
Nordstrom opened its first Canadian store in Calgary in September 2014.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgExit from Canadian Market
Nordstrom wound down its Canadian business, closing six full-line Nordstrom stores and seven Rack stores, to refocus on the U.S. market.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgLast Public Fiscal Year: $15.0 Billion Revenue
In FY2024, its last year as a public company, Nordstrom reported total revenues of $15.016 billion, net sales of $14.557 billion, and net earnings of $294 million.
Source: sec.govNordstrom Goes Private
The Nordstrom family and El Puerto de Liverpool complete the acquisition of Nordstrom on May 20, 2025; Nordstrom stock ceases NYSE trading before the market opens on May 21, 2025.
Source: press.nordstrom.comErik and Pete Nordstrom Become Co-CEOs
With the go-private deal closing, brothers Erik and Pete Nordstrom became co-CEOs and a seven-member board replaced the 12-member public board.
Source: wwd.com125th Anniversary and Rack Expansion
Nordstrom marked 125 years in business after opening 22 Rack stores in 2025, reaching 298, and announced 18 more Rack openings for 2026.
Source: wwd.comMajor Acquisitions
HauteLook
2011Added a flash-sale e-commerce business and technology for online off-price sales.
Trunk Club
2014Nordstrom acquired Trunk Club to test digital personal styling.
BevyUp
2018Omnicommerce retail solutions.
MessageYes
2018Mobile messaging and purchases via text.
Keep researching Nordstrom
Nordstrom Company History FAQ
What are the historic milestones that define Nordstrom's 120+ year evolution?
Key milestones include the founding of Wallin & Nordstrom (1901), the purchase of Best's Apparel (1963), the first Nordstrom Rack (1973), expansion into California (1978) and the East Coast (1988), the launch of Nordstrom.com (late 1990s), the HauteLook acquisition (2011), the Manhattan flagship opening (2019), and the go-private deal with El Puerto de Liverpool (2025).
How did Nordstrom's 1978 South Coast Plaza opening ignite its national expansion?
In 1978, Nordstrom opened its first full-line department store in Southern California at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa; the store achieved the highest opening-year sales volume in company history, proving that Nordstrom's Pacific Northwest customer service culture was a large national sensation.
When did Nordstrom launch its website and pioneer digital luxury e-commerce?
Nordstrom launched Nordstrom.com in October 1998, becoming one of the first luxury department store retailers to offer full online catalog ordering, free shipping, free returns, and smooth in-store inventory lookup.
How did the 1988 opening at Tysons Corner Center establish Nordstrom on the East Coast?
In March 1988, Nordstrom opened its first East Coast flagship store at Tysons Corner Center in McLean, Virginia, setting national single-day department store sales records and receiving international acclaim for bringing live piano music and well-known customer service to the Atlantic seaboard.
How did Nordstrom celebrate its centennial anniversary in 2001?
Nordstrom marked its 100th anniversary in 2001 as a national retailer still led by the founding family.
How did Nordstrom handle the COVID-19 retail store closures in 2020?
During temporary nationwide physical store closures in 2020, Nordstrom swiftly pivoted to contactless curbside pickup, scaled digital styling sessions via the Nordstrom app, accelerated digital clearance on NordstromRack.com, and restructured operating expenses.
What was the significance of opening the 7-story Manhattan Flagship in 2019?
Completed in October 2019 after seven years of architectural planning, the 320,000-square-foot Manhattan Flagship at 57th and Broadway unified Nordstrom's global luxury brand presence in the fashion capital of the world, generating high international tourist foot traffic.
What is Nordstrom's current direction?
As a private company since 2025, Nordstrom is focused on opening more Rack stores, refining full-line assortments, and attracting younger customers while keeping its service model.
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