Nordstrom near deal for Las Vegas store

Nordstrom Inc. is closer than ever to locating stores in Las Vegas.

Pete Nordstrom, co-president of the Seattle-based retailer, told a Preview '99 audience today that "we don't have a signed deal, but we're closer then we've ever been" to having some form of retail presence in Las Vegas.

Nordstrom was one of the featured speakers at Preview, an event sponsored by the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and the Nevada Development Authority, attended by about 1,800 people at the Thomas and Mack Center.

Nordstrom is a fashion-specialty retailer with 97 stores in 22 states, including 67 department stores, 24 Nordstrom Racks, one clearance store and three Faconnable boutiques.

In an interview before his speech, Nordstrom said his company may consider building at more than one location in Las Vegas.

"It used to be just tourists," Nordstrom said of Las Vegas. "Now, there are more than a million people who live here. Between the size of the city and the tourists, there could easily be multiple stores."

Nordstrom wouldn't disclose with whom he is negotiating, but local real estate experts speculate the company is talking with Mandalay Bay and the developers of a proposed mall near Summerlin.

"To be honest with you, we've talked with about everybody," Nordstrom said.

Nordstrom said he has received more correspondence from Las Vegas encouraging a move to the city than any market his company has ever worked with.

"It's very flattering to be wanted," he said. "We've been in business for 98 years and we've never had the kind of response we've had here. We've just got to find the best deal for our company."

Nordstrom said every time he comes to Las Vegas he realizes how much he wants to have stores here.

"Every time I come here, there's something new that has gone up," Nordstrom said "that's what's exciting about this city."

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