Turns out, Twin Cities shoppers can go upscale.
On Friday, Nordstrom confirmed that it will open a second store in the Twin Cities at Ridgedale Center in Minnetonka -- one of the metro's most-affluent suburbs.
The news comes after Neiman Marcus announced plans to shutter its downtown Minneapolis store come Jan. 31, and Bloomingdale's closed its Mall of America store last year, leaving some to speculate that the Twin Cities' Carhartt-wearing and Sorel-loving market won't support upscale retailers.
But Nordstrom's plans to open a second store in the Twin Cities by fall of 2015 -- as well as the Mall of America's push into luxury brands and the continued success of Edina's Galleria -- would seem to defy the retail stereotype.
"Our Mall of America store is one of our most successful stores, and we believe we can better serve our Minneapolis-St. Paul customers with a second location," said Erik Nordstrom, president of stores for the Seattle-based retailer. The company also operates two off-price Nordstrom Rack locations at the Bloomington megamall and at Arbor Lakes in Maple Grove.
Nordstrom will occupy 138,000 square feet of what is now a Macy's men's and home store at Ridgedale. Cincinnati-based Macy's said earlier this week that it would close that store and consolidate it into a second store at Ridgedale that currently offers women's and children merchandise. The renovated Macy's store would also be expanded by another 84,000 square feet.
That means Ridgedale would have four distinct anchors -- Macy's, Nordstrom, Sears and J.C. Penney.
The Nordstrom news delighted Mavis McMillen, of St. Louis Park, who was shopping Friday at Ridgedale. "I think it's great. When I think of Nordstrom, I think of shoes," she said, noting the retailer's reputation for footwear. "I don't get to the Mall of America much; this mall is so much more convenient for me."