Nordstrom planning shoe store at Ward Centre

By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer

Seattle-based fashion retailer Nordstrom is near a deal with Victoria Ward Ltd. to open what would be the biggest shoe store in the Islands, a 25,000-square-foot location at Ward Centre.

The store, under construction and expected to be finished as early as May or June, is expected to replace Nordstrom's two shoe stores at Ala Moana Center and concentrate the retailer's presence at the Kaka'ako shopping complex.

A deal is expected to be announced as early as next week, according to people with knowledge of the plans.

Mitch D'Olier, president and chief executive officer of Victoria Ward, declined comment.

Nordstrom spokeswoman Tracy Overby said, "We have nothing to announce."

Nordstrom has operated two shoe stores at Ala Moana since 1997 when the retailer pulled its shoe department out of Liberty House. Liberty House then sued the owner of Ala Moana last year to prevent Nordstrom from building a full-line department store at the mall.

Leases for Nordstrom's 14,000-square-foot women's shoe store and the 8,000-square-foot men's shoe store at Ala Moana expire in May and have not been renewed.

A consolidated Nordstrom shoe store would serve as a second anchor for Ward Centre, which at the diamondhead end has a 30,000-square-foot Borders Books Music & Cafe that opened in 1995.

The shoe store would join a 30,000-square-foot Nordstrom Rack discount store behind Ward Entertainment Center.

Local retail analyst Stephany Sofos said the Nordstrom addition would fill a softness in fashion retailing at Ward's shopping complex.

"Shoes are the No. 1 fashion purchase," she said. "That will really bring people in. It's a good move for them."

The shoe store would be integrated into the 'ewa end of Ward Centre, and displace four tenants that should be relocated by the end of the year — Keo's At Ward Centre, The Ultimate You, the Moomin Shop and Tsuru Matsu An.

Victoria Ward has 400,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and entertainment space on its property. The newest addition was the entertainment center that opened in May with a 16-screen theater.

Recently, several tenants have opened, including feature restaurant and game emporium Dave & Busters and Gaucho Grill. In addition, Bose will open a flagship store next Saturday, and Wolfgang Puck Express is scheduled to open in February.

Nordstrom, which operates about 130 stores — including full-line, off-price, clearance outlets and boutiques — does not operate any other stand-alone shoe stores except the two at Ala Moana, which were planned as an interim operation until the retailer established a full-line store.

Overby said the company continues to search for an opportunity to locate a full-line store in Hawai'i.