Rows of electronics have been replaced with racks of discounted designer clothing at the former Circuit City space in Ann Arbor’s Arborland Center on Washtenaw Avenue.
Nordstrom Rack, the off-price retail division of the Nordstrom Inc. department chain, hosted an invitation-only preview event on Tuesday evening at its first store in Ann Arbor. Hundreds of shoppers flocked to the event, filling the parking lot at the west end of Arborland.
“I was so happy when they brought Nordstrom here at all,” said Betsey Baron, an Ann Arbor resident who attended the event with her friend, Stacey Bodner. “I grew up with Nordstrom and so coming out here and there wasn’t one, I was like, ‘What are you doing to me?’”
The store officially opens at 9 a.m. on April 18. Customers can come to the store at 8 a.m. for breakfast treats, music and to enter a chance to win $100 gift cards or a $1,000 shopping spree, according to a company statement.
Invitations for the preview event were extended to Nordstrom’s Fashion Rewards members and their guests. Attendees could shop, eat and drink, and listen to a DJ spinning tunes. About 50 people were lined up outside the store before the event started at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
“We kind of had no idea it was going to be this crowded,” said University of Michigan senior Brittany Teramo. Teramo, who’s from New York, had never been to a Nordstrom Rack before.
“It’s really nice,” she said. “Obviously, it just opened right this second, but everything looks good.”
Seattle-based Nordstrom Inc. signed a lease for the 30,000-square-foot space in Arborland Center in fall 2012. Most recently occupied by Circuit City, the space was vacant for three years after the electronic store liquidated. It’s situated between Famous Footwear and Petco.
The Rack stores carry “on-trend merchandise from Nordstrom stores and Nordstrom.com at 30 to 70 percent off original Nordstrom prices,” according to the company’s website.
Entering the Ann Arbor store, shoppers first come across the accessories section, which has handbags, jewelry, watches, perfume and other items. Sections in women’s clothing are: contemporary, casual, career and active. There is an area for juniors and kids clothing; a men’s section; and men’s and women’s shoes are located in the rear of the store.
The store also features a “green checkout” option, where customers can ask an employee to ring up their order on a mobile device from anywhere in the store. It’s a feature offered in every Nordstrom Rack store.
Bodner, an Ann Arbor resident and preview event attendee, said she prefers Nordstrom Rack stores to other similar retailers because it’s easier to shop.
“They have everything organized and you’re not digging to find things,” she said.
“It’s also fun to have the higher-end stores coming into Ann Arbor,” she added, referring to the tenant lineup at Arbor Hills shopping center on Washtenaw Avenue.
Ann Arbor resident Troy Miller, who also attended the event to check out dress shirts, slacks and shoes, said he likes the variety of things offered at Nordstrom Rack.
“It’s a good addition to Ann Arbor,” he said. “I love their brand and I love the selection, so I’ll definitely come back.”
Nordstrom was founded as a shoe store in 1901, and it now operates 123 Nordstrom Rack locations. There are Nordstrom department stores in Troy, Novi and Clinton Township. There are Nordstrom Rack stores in Troy and Grand Rapids.
The Ann Arbor store hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.