More than 380 people are organizing, merchandising and polishing the new Nordstrom store in the Cherry Creek Shopping Center as time counts down to the store’s fundraising gala tonight and official opening Friday. Staff and managers on Tuesday primped the store for its first public appearance. Shoe displays stood perfect, handbags were arranged just so, and mannequins were in different stages of dress.
“We want customers to connect with us and leave happy,” spokeswoman Brooke White said. “We want to take you beyond what you came in for.”
It took nearly 11 years for Nordstrom to secure a space in the Cherry Creek mall and two years to build it and stock it.
A first peek at the store revealed a bustling workplace with thousands of items on display or being stocked.
Sales staff sat in groups learning about the anatomy of a foot or touring other sections to become familiar with the merchandise. Every talk was laced with the commitment Nordstrom has become legendary for: customer service.
When the store opens Friday, it will house more than 75 fragrances, 3,150 men’s shirts, 1,460 neckties and 7,300 bras.
The 138,000-square-foot store is the first Nordstrom in the state to offer a Bobbi Brown cosmetics section and the first in the company to host a Marni boutique.
Cherry Creek becomes the sixth mall in the nation to have Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Macy’s.
The Seattle-based retailer describes itself as boutiques within a large department store. It will boast brands new to Colorado Nordstrom stores such as Oscar de la Renta, Burberry, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Manolo Blahnik, Lavender Label, Tory Burch and 3.1 Phillip Lim.
Out of nearly 1,200 applicants, 380 were selected to work at the store. Of those, the department managers were all transferred from other stores nationwide. The managers are able to then create the Nordstrom energy for the new employees, White said.
Handbag-department manager Meghan Trejo moved to Colorado two months ago from a store in Southern California.
“The merchandise is absolutely beautiful,” she said as she arranged handbags in the store. “It’s a very fashion-focused store.”
Elizabeth Aguilera: 303-954-1372 or eaguilera@denverpost.com
What’s in store?
For sale in Nordstrom’s new Cherry Creek mall store:
75
Fragrances
3,150
Men’s shirts
1,460
Neckties
7,300
Bras
