Nordstrom’s First Canadian Store Opens in Calgary

Nordstrom opened its first Canadian store on Friday. The two-level, 140,000 sq. ft. store at Chinook Centre in Calgary, Alberta is the Seattle luxury retailer’s first store outside the U.S.

Nordstrom plans to open five more stores in Canada over the next three years. An Ottawa store is scheduled to open in March, 2015; followed by Vancouver in September, 2015; two Toronto stores in fall 2016 (Yorkdale Centre and Eaton Centre) and another Toronto store in spring 2017 (Sherway Gardens).

Nordstrom will be joined in Toronto by another American import—Hudson’s Bay Company has plans to open Saks Fifth Avenue stores downtown and in Sherway Gardens.

Meanwhile, Canadian luxury retailers like Harry Rosen and Holt Renfrew have major stores in many of the centers that Nordstrom will operate in. Harry Rosen’s CEO Larry Rosen told MR in July that he’s been timing renovations and expansions to finish before Nordstrom moves into new Canadian markets. And Holt Renfrew recently announced a $300 million expansion campaign.

Nordstrom operates 271 stores in 36 states, including 117 Nordstrom stores and 151 Nordstrom Rack off-price stores. Nordstrom also owns the flash sale site HauteLook.com and announced it would acquire Trunk Club in July.