Anchor store to expand at mall

  • KATHY DAY / Herald Writer
  • Monday, July 10, 2000 9:00pm
  • Local News

By KATHY DAY

Herald Writer

LYNNWOOD – Nordstrom plans to take over the closed Lamonts store at Alderwood Mall and create a larger store with new design concepts, the Seattle-based retailer announced Monday.

The move, scheduled for completion in fall 2003, will involve demolishing the former Lamonts building and building a two-story store that is one-third larger than the existing Nordstrom in the mall, said company spokeswoman Paula Weigand. Demolition and construction work will begin in fall 2001.

The new store will occupy approximately 167,000 square feet, placing it at the upper end of the company’s stores in size, she said. They range from 140,000 to 175,000 square feet.

The expansion will be part of a planned renovation and expansion of the 21-year-old Alderwood Mall, according to Alex Liftis of General Growth Properties, the mall’s Chicago-based owner. He said it is too early to give specifics.

But, he added, the company, which owns or operates 136 malls, is eyeing entertainment opportunities as well as options for another major department store. Several years ago, the mall added a food court, and it now has 150 stores and restaurants.

"Alderwood is in a great area. As Nordstrom has indicated by its move, it has consistent and loyal customers. They see an opportunity to expand and we are looking at the same thing," Liftis said.

Detailed plans for the new Nordstrom have not been completed, although Weigand said the concept will "make it easier to shop."

Recently the company realigned not only its divisions and its buyers but also its store departments. Weigand pointed to remodeling at the Bellevue and downtown Seattle Nordstrom stores, where women’s fashions were consolidated on one floor and divided into two general areas. At those stores, women’s wear is split between classic, which Weigand described as "mainstream … everyday" clothes, and modern, which she called "more contemporary."

"This is our hometown so we have some older, more established stores here and we are looking at what to do with them," Weigand said.

At the same time, the retailer plans to expand into some of the 50 top metropolitan markets where it does not have a presence. Stores set to open during the next few years include downtown Chicago, St. Louis, downtown Cincinnati, Charlotte, N.C., and Boca Raton, Fla.

Krista Haverly, retail portfolio leasing manager for CB Richard Ellis in Seattle, said the Nordstrom expansion will be a good move for the mall, which has faced increasing competition from new stores on its perimeter.

The 1 million-square-foot mall is being challenged by the nearby addition of stores like Barnes &amp Noble and Old Navy, which is so pleased with its success that it is looking to expand, Haverly said. They will soon be joined by Pier 1, a Talbot’s outlet and a 45,000-square-foot Best Buys electronics store, said Haverly, a Lynnwood resident.

"Consumers have gotten so they like to be able to park just outside the store," she said, noting that mall developers are having to look at new ideas such as clustering similar retailers like children’s stores together to make the shopping experience easier.

The Lamont’s chain was recently purchased by Gottshalk’s of California, but the deal didn’t include the Alderwood location.

Haverly said the combination of a "strong trade area" and tight vacancy rates have store owners and developers alike doing what Nordstrom is doing: remerchandising, or looking for new ways to attract customers.

Haverly, who represents a lot of tenants including some entering the market for the first time, said she recommends Lynnwood as the No. 3 area her clients should be in, after Seattle and Bellevue.

You can call Herald Writer Kathy Day at 425-339-3453or send e-mail to

kday@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Everett Historic Theater owner Curtis Shriner inside the theater on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Historic Everett Theatre sale on horizon, future uncertain

With expected new ownership, events for July and August will be canceled. The schedule for the fall and beyond is unclear.

Contributed photo from Snohomish County Public Works
Snohomish County Public Works contractor crews have begun their summer 2016 paving work on 13 miles of roadway, primarily in the Monroe and Stanwood areas. This photo is an example of paving work from a previous summer. A new layer of asphalt is put down over the old.
Snohomish County plans to resurface about 76 miles of roads this summer

EVERETT – As part of its annual road maintenance and preservation program,… Continue reading

City of Everett Engineer Tom Hood, left, and City of Everett Engineer and Project Manager Dan Enrico, right, talks about the current Edgewater Bridge demolition on Friday, May 9, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
How do you get rid of a bridge? Everett engineers can explain.

Workers began dismantling the old Edgewater Bridge on May 2. The process could take one to two months, city engineers said.

Smoke from the Bolt Creek fire silhouettes a mountain ridge and trees just outside of Index on Sept. 12, 2022. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County will host two wildfire-preparedness meetings in May

Meetings will allow community members to learn wildfire mitigation strategies and connect with a variety of local and state agencies.

Helion's 6th fusion prototype, Trenta, on display on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Helion celebrates smoother path to fusion energy site approval

Helion CEO applauds legislation signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson expected to streamline site selection process.

Vehicles travel along Mukilteo Speedway on Sunday, April 21, 2024, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Mukilteo cameras go live to curb speeding on Speedway

Starting Friday, an automated traffic camera system will cover four blocks of Mukilteo Speedway. A 30-day warning period is in place.

Carli Brockman lets her daughter Carli, 2, help push her ballot into the ballot drop box on the Snohomish County Campus on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Here’s who filed for the primary election in Snohomish County

Positions with three or more candidates will go to voters Aug. 5 to determine final contenders for the Nov. 4 general election.

Sound Transit approves contract to build Bothell bus facility

The 365,000-square-foot facility will be the heart of the agency’s new Stride bus rapid transit system, set to open in 2028.

One dead in Everett crash involving motorcycle and two vehicles

Police shut down the 10300 block of Evergreen Way in both directions during the multi-vehicle collision investigation.

Katie Wallace, left, checks people into the first flight from Paine Field to Honolulu on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Executive order makes way for Paine Field expansion planning

Expansion would be a long-range project estimated to cost around $300 million.

A person pauses to look at an art piece during the Schack Art Center’s 50th anniversary celebration on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett to seek Creative District designation

The city hopes to grow jobs in the creative sector and access new grant funds through the state label.

Former Herald writer Melissa Slager’s new book was 14-year project

The 520-page historical novel “Contests of Strength” covers the 1700 earthquake and tsunami on Makah lands.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.