​Nordstrom closing Mall of Georgia store

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James Crichlow

Nordstrom Representatives were on hand to give assembled media a tour of the St. John's Town Center location

Amy Wenk

Staff Writer- Atlanta Business Chronicle

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Upscale fashion retailer Nordstrom Inc. announced Wednesday that it will close its department store at the Mall of Georgia in Buford, Ga.

Nordstrom, which opened at Mall of Georgia in 2000, has set Feb. 28 as its last day in business. About 175 non-seasonal employees will be affected, according to the company.

"We have a great team at the Mall of Georgia ... but despite our team's best efforts, the bottom line is that we simply don't do enough business here to continue operating the store into the future," Jamie Nordstrom, president of stores for the company, said in a Wednesday announcement. "We had the opportunity to end our lease and in looking at our options, it made the most sense for our business to make the decision to close the store."

Founded in 1901 as a shoe store in Seattle, Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN) today has nearly 300 stores in 38 states. Two Nordstrom department stores will remain in metro Atlanta -- at Phipps Plaza and Perimeter Mall. There also are four locations of its off-price concept Nordstrom Rack in the metro area.

Nordstrom this year has closed at least one other full-line department store - a location in Orlando. But, the retailer also is opening new department stores, including one this month in Jacksonville, Fla.

Amy Wenk covers hospitality, retail and restaurants.