Bruce Nordstrom, former chairman of Nordstrom Inc., one of the leading luxury department stores in the U.S., and a 40-year manager, has passed away at the age of 90.
His sons Pete and Erik Nordstrom stated in a statement, “Our dad leaves a powerful legacy as a legendary business leader, a generous community citizen and a loyal friend.”
Bruce Nordstrom is the person who took the family business co-founded by his grandfather from a regional shoe distributor to one of the largest department store chains in the United States.
Bruce Nordstrom became president in 1963, initially overseeing a regional chain of shoe stores. Later, however, he and his cousins James and John Nordstrom grew the company into a national department store chain renowned for its wide selection, friendly and courteous customer service, and generous return policy.
Through his exceptional leadership and vision, the company acquired Best Apparel, a Seattle-based women’s apparel store. The combined store was named Nordstrom Best. A few years later, the company added men’s and children’s clothing to its product offerings.
Later, in 1971, the company went public and changed its name to Nordstrom Inc.