SEATTLE (May 4, 2000) - Seattle-based Nordstrom Inc., one of the nation’s leading fashion specialty retailers, today announced it has signed a letter of intent with The Rouse Company to build a two-level store of approximately 165,000 square feet at Nashville Center in Nashville, Tennessee. The store is tentatively scheduled to open in spring 2003 and will be the retailer’s first store in Tennessee.

Nashville is a vibrant metropolitan area that hosts over 9 million visitors per year” said Bob Middlemas, executive vice president, central states general manager of Nordstrom’s full-line store group. “We are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to become part of this community and we hope Music City residents and visitors alike will choose to shop with Nordstrom.

The retailer’s national expansion plans over the next few years will focus primarily on the country’s top 50 metropolitan markets. Future store openings including downtown Chicago (2000), Boca Raton, Fla. (2000), Charlotte, NC (2002), Durham, NC (2002), and St. Louis, Mo. (2002). (Editor’s note: For a complete listing please contact Nordstrom at the number below.)

Nordstrom offers a wide range of apparel for women, men and children, and carries one of the largest selections of shoes available. The company was originally founded as a shoe store in 1901 by John W. Nordstrom. Apparel and accessories were added in the early 1960’s.

Nordstrom carries nationally recognized brand names as well as its own exclusive brands, including BCBG Exclusively for Nordstrom, Callaway Golf Apparel by Nordstrom, Façonnable, Talora, Classiques Entier, Preview and Halogen.

Nordstrom recently refocused its women’s apparel departments to reflect the changing needs of its customers. The retailer has supplemented its strong classic and mainstream offering with more modern and casual merchandise in response to customer feedback. Regional merchandisers are responsible for tailoring the merchandise in each store based on the local community’s fashion tastes and preferences.

Nordstrom, Inc. is one of the nation’s leading fashion specialty retailers, with 106 stores located in 23 states, including 72 full-line stores, 28 Nordstrom Racks, three Façonnable boutiques, two free-standing shoe stores, and one clearance store. The company also seeks to serve customers through its online presence at http://www.nordstrom.com as well as with direct mail catalogs. Nordstrom, Inc. is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol JWN.

Contact:

Paula Weigand, Nordstrom Inc.
(206) 373-3036