Pulled Off the Rack

Nordstrom Rack, the off-price retail division of specialty retailer Nordstrom Inc. (Seattle), plans to close its City Place store in Silver Spring, Md., in January 2002 after almost 10 years in this location. The company has decided not to renew its lease, which ends in April, due to lack of growth in the City Place store's business.

Nordstrom Rack offers customers the main store's array of brand name apparel, shoes and accessories discounts of up to 75 percent. “Sales growth has not met our expectations over the past few years and we have chosen to close this location,” said Sue Tabor, executive vp and president of Nordstrom Rack. “Although we are closing our City Place store, we will continue to consider other opportunities to do business in this area.”

Nordstrom Rack currently operates 39 stores nationwide and plans to open eight new stores this year alone, in such locations as the Washington, D.C., area, San Francisco and Roseville and Oxnard, Calif. Three California locations — in Fresno, Long Beach and Ontario – are expected in 2002. The retailer currently operates 11 of its Rack stores, more than 25 percent of the chain, in the California market.