Nordstrom plans store in Kaka'ako
By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer
Nordstrom announced plans this morning to build a three-story, full-line department store in Kaka'ako as part of a major redevelopment of the Ward Warehouse retail complex.
The Seattle-based retailer said it has signed a letter of intent with shopping complex owner Victoria Ward Ltd., and plans to build a 150,000-square-foot store that could open by late 2005.
Victoria Ward is proposing to locate the Nordstrom store somewhere on the site of the existing Ward Warehouse, which would be redeveloped and revamped in a $150 million to $200 million project.
Mitch D'Olier, president and chief executive of Victoria Ward, said no development partner has been named, and financing has not been secured.
The plans, which are in the conceptual stage, still need government approvals. Nordstrom would be the principal anchor.
Nordstrom also announced plans to open what would be the biggest shoe store in the Islands, a 25,000-square-foot location at an 'ewa extension of 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.
Both stores would complement Nordstrom's existing 30,000-square-foot Nordstrom Rack discount store behind Ward Entertainment Center.
The announcements mark major additions for Victoria Ward, which has about 400,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and entertainment space on its Kaka'ako property. The newest addition was an entertainment center that opened in May with a 16-screen theater and a mix of restaurants and retail shops.
The move also marks the end to longtime efforts by Nordstrom to open a full-line department store in Hawai'i.
In 1996, Nordstrom announced plans to open a 268,000-square-foot store — which would have been one of the chain's largest — at Ala Moana Center as early as 1999. But that proposal ran into trouble when Ala Moana department store anchor Liberty House objected to the move, and cited a provision in its lease that allowed it to block Nordstrom's plans.
Liberty House last year filed a lawsuit against Ala Moana owner General Growth Properties Inc. to uphold its objection, and Nordstrom gave up its plan late last year.
The addition of a Nordstrom department store to the island market brings another major Mainland retailer into the mix. Earlier this year, Federated Department Stores Inc. purchased local chain Liberty House and is set to officially unveil its Macy's line next Friday.
Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8065.
