Had the best experience today getting a suit coat. Staff and manager were so helpful in getting my size and gathering different sizes and brands to find the best fit! Price was great and will definitely be back for one they did have in stock. read more

October 23 is the official opening date for this Rack at The Village outdoor mall in Meridian, next to the newly opened Barnes and Noble, but yesterday, October 21, they held a "by invite only" opening event and I attended. I use Rack to easily return things I order by mail from regular Nordstrom, where I have been a card holder since my college years and that was a literal lifetime ago, and this is much closer to my house than the Boise store. So, I was eager to see inside and said "yes" when I received an email from Nordstrom asking if I'd like to attend a pre-opening event. Based on my "look see" at the inside of the store, if you are a Rack-shopper-person and enjoy the Rack in Boise, this store seems much larger and brighter and new with lots of stock and friendly people so you'll probably love this one. Now to the pre-opening event itself, to suggest a different view than A.M.'s 3 star rating comments. She is correct that it did seem employees were letting in anyone who lined up in the very, very long line inside instead of checking the e-tickets sent to invitees. As someone alongside me in the tight space inside the store said, "So much for reservations only. PLEASE!" My response was that what looks feasible in plan sometimes doesn't work on the ground and improvising is necessary. Given the long line and that some people had several friends and family members with them (including multiple children including stroller age) it may be the employees felt they couldn't manage crowd behavior if they were reviewing tickets at the entry to allow only ticket holders access. I assumed, as A.M. did, that this would be a controlled gate. But when I showed up at 4:00 for the 4:00 to 6:00 entry option (the other option was 7:00 to 9:00 but that is after my bedtime) the line was already very long and growing rapidly. Nordstrom had employees on the sidewalk reminding people this with a ticket only event, and also asking them to please not block the entry doors of other retailers as people were doing that. There was also a sign at the Rack door saying "ticketed event" but many people ignored that. It also looked as if employees were metering in so that the store didn't get overwhelmingly full and waited for some to exit before allowing others in. I imagine for people with tickets who were waiting a long time in line that this was frustrating but it was necessary to avoid a crush in the store. Employees were lined up inside as shoppers entered using "applause sticks" to welcome us in and thank us for coming. They managed to keep this a couple of ticks short of chaos and some people were actually shopping for items and then lining up at check stands to buy them. They also had a DJ set up in the back and a free refreshments stand with cans of beer, sparkling wine, water, cookies and pretzels and people were lining up there too (free stuff has fans always it seems) and then strolling around the store munching and sipping. I applaud the Nordy's staff on the ground at the event for their friendly grace in all of this. As I was leaving an Nordy's employee standing outside the door thanked me for coming and said "come see us again on Thursday" (opening day). I laughed and said I would probably wait a couple of months until the horde abated and she chuckled, "Probably wise." read more

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The 'Rack this way' banner greets all that venture into the new Rack at the Village. The store is packed with name brands and is very updated compared to the Boise location, but it seems that the Boise location still has more luxury brand names that the village location - at least when it comes to men's clothing. I do appreciate the Cole Haan and the North Face, but I was expecting to find some Robert Graham, Eton, and Marmot, and Emmanuel Berg yet either they were all hiding or being saved for another location. I know that selection and brands come and go so I'll keep checking. We were greeted by every staff member, and they were more than willing to help, but it was a little strange to have a team member not believe me when I already combed through the rack for them to comb over the same rack. I know some customers will miss something but trust me when I tell you, I already looked. I appreciate the effort though. I will be back and perhaps won't rack this way but instead be like the beachcomber with the metal detector looking in the racks for some luxury brands. read more

Nordstrom! You sent out "exclusive" invitations to your pre-opening event - requiring an RSVP... yet you opened your doors and admitted everyone lined up outside... including those with no invitations to your event. What was the point of accepting the invitation and driving an hour? Not a good look Nordies... But... upon further reflection, the more thoughtful observations of others, your proximity to my house, and my slavish devotion to Nordstrom's in general... I will definitely be back. Just when the crowds have abated! read more