Bruce Nordstrom, the executive who helped grow the US department store Nordstrom into one of the country’s largest retailers, died on Saturday at his home.
He was 90 years old.
Mr Nordstrom was among the third generation of leaders in his family business, who assumed control in 1968.
His sons, who now run the company, described their father as a “legendary business leader”, in a statement confirming his death.
Nordstrom, co-founded by Mr Nordstrom’s grandfather in 1901, started as a Seattle-based shoe shop. As of October 2023, the company operates 360 stores in the US.
Mr Nordstrom sat at the helm for decades, retiring as an executive in 1995 and later, in 2006, retiring from Nordstrom’s board of directors.
Much of the retail outlet’s growth came at the hands of Mr Nordstrom including the decision to take the company public in 1971 and the decision to launch a lower-priced version of the department store called Nordstrom Rack.
“Our dad leaves a powerful legacy as a legendary business leader, a generous community citizen and a loyal friend,” said a statement from his sons, Nordstrom CEO Erik Nordstrom and Pete Nordstrom, the company’s president.
Along with his two sons, Bruce is survived by his wife, Jeannie, his sister Anne Gittinger and seven grandchildren.
His third son, Blake Nordstrom, died suddenly in 2019.