Milwaukee Event Photography
Nordstrom Grand Opening – Milwaukee Store Opens and Features the Cuisine of Zilli Hospitality
The Nordstrom Grand Opening was an event for the ages. These guys know how to put on a party! From the moment you pulled into the parking lot and the entire exterior of the building was lit up and greeting you (HELLO MILWAUKEE), you knew this was going to be something special.
Check out what the Journal Sentinel had to say about the unprecedented event in Milwaukee.
By of the Journal Sentinel
Wauwatosa — Long in the planning by Nordstrom Inc. and even longer in the pining by fans of the retailer, Wisconsin’s first full-line Nordstorm opened Friday morning with loud applause by employees who welcomed a wave of 1,500 shoppers into the Mayfair store.
“I love Nordstrom” said Dianne Flees, a customer from Brookfield. “I love their shoe department. I love their variety. I love their quality. You just can’t beat them.”
Brook Mayborne of Germantown felt the same way.
“We’re tired of going to Chicago,” she said. “We’re excited about higher-end brands coming to the area.”
For years, Nordstrom aficionados have been traveling to the Chicago area, where there are four full-line Nordstrom stores.
With the opening of Nordstrom’s 121st full-line store Friday at Mayfair, they won’t have to make that journey any more to receive the customer service and selection for which the high-end retailer is famous.
In the late 1990s, Mayfair mall’s owners began talking about adding a third anchor to join Boston Store and Macy’s. Finally, in late 2012, Nordstrom said it would be that anchor, announcing plans to construct a 140,000-square-foot store on the east side of the shopping center.
“We’ve had our eye on Milwaukee for a long time,” said Erik Nordstrom, co-president of the Seattle-based company, who was at Mayfair to meet customers Friday. “This one took longer than most for the project to come together and the opportunity for us to come here.”
Many of Nordstrom’s first Mayfair shoppers gathered a couple of hours before the grand opening Friday in the corridor that connects the new store to the mall, where Nordstrom was offering free cosmetic consultations and makeovers from its beauty experts.
When the doors opened, a shoe department was immediately populated by women wanting to try on the footwear that is one of the hallmarks of Nordstrom.
The store features five shoe departments — three for women and one each for children and men.
Nordstrom is known for offering stylish shoes for even difficult-to-fit wide or narrow feet.
The store sells apparel, accessories, cosmetics and beauty supplies along with many other products for women, men and children.
The Wauwatosa store has about 330 employees.
The Mayfair Nordstrom also features a Ruscello restaurant, which serves a Mediterranean and Italian-inspired menu and includes a full bar, 124 seats inside and 44 seats outside.
Among other offerings of the store are personal stylists, mobile checkout, e-bar, beauty stylists and studio, certified bra fitters, a tailor shop and complimentary gift boxes.
Alyson McMahon of Wauwatosa was familiar with Nordstrom from living in California, which has more than 30 full-line Nordstrom stores, far more than any other state.
“It’s beautiful. It’s a gorgeous store, from the outside especially,” McMahon said. “We’re just excited to have a Nordstrom after moving here from California three years ago.”
McMahon’s daughter, Brookelyn, 12, was among a group of preteens who used a school vacation to check out the new store.
Their reaction would seem to indicate a next generation of Nordstrom shoppers already is in the making.
“It’s really pretty and they have a lot of pretty clothes,” Brookelyn said
“I think it’s really pretty from the outside and inside, and they’ve got a lot of really cute clothes,” said Megan Rettler.
Said Ava Beisenstein: “I’ve never been to a Nordstrom, and I’m really excited to go to my first one. It’s really cool.”
Ava’s favorite thing about the store?
“I love the shoes,” she said.
You can see the original article on the Journal Sentinel here.