Waikiki Nordstrom Rack to Close July 27

The Nordstrom Rack store in Honolulu's Waikiki neighborhood will close its doors permanently on July 27, marking the end of more than a decade of operation in the area. The closure affects 34 employees, though Nordstrom has stated that some may be offered opportunities to transfer to other company locations. Employees not offered a transfer or who decline the offer will have their final day of employment around the closure date.

The 34,000-square-foot retail space opened in the spring of 2016 at the Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach on Kuhio Avenue. The company notified affected employees of the closure in late May, adhering to the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, which requires advance notice of mass layoffs or closures. The exact number of employees who will receive transfer offers remains unclear.

While Nordstrom has not officially stated a reason for the closure, some customers have speculated on social media. Factors such as high rent have been suggested as a potential cause, with one Facebook user estimating monthly rent for the space could range from $90,000 to $200,000. This is contrasted with estimates for the Nordstrom department store at Ala Moana Center, which a user suggested might pay between $700,000 and $900,000 per month.

Customers expressed sadness over the store's impending closure, with one describing it as a "favorite place" and "amazing shop." For shoppers in Honolulu, alternative Nordstrom options remain available. Another Nordstrom Rack is located at Ward Village Shops, and a full-line Nordstrom department store operates at Ala Moana Center.