Nordstrom downsizing in return to SF nearly two years after closing downtown

(KRON) — Two years after shutting down its massive flagship store in downtown San Francisco, Nordstrom is coming back to the city. The luxury department store giant is set to open in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights neighborhood.

Nordstrom is opening a location at 1919 Fillmore St., a company spokesperson confirmed to KRON4. No opening date has been announced.

However, it is not coming back in the sense many shoppers might think. Compared to its 30,000+ square feet store in downtown San Francisco, this one will be much smaller at 1,648 square feet.

This location will be a “Nordstrom Local,” which is a customer service hub center for the retailer. It will offer services that include online order pickup, returns, alterations and clothing donations.

Video above: Nordstrom closing flagship store in SF back in August of 2023

The San Francisco Planning Department approved Nordstrom’s application to take over that space last Thursday on June 5, a city spokesperson said.

Nordstrom Local centers generally do not sell merchandise to customers directly. According to Nordstrom’s website, these centers offer services such as personal stylists, nail services and “on-site refreshments.”

The San Francisco Nordstrom Local would be the first location in the Bay Area. There are currently five Nordstrom Local stores in the United States, all in New York and Los Angeles, according to the company’s website. The first Nordstrom Local opened in Los Angeles’ Melrose area in 2017.

KRON4 visited the storefront this week and saw signage of city officials approving Nordstrom’s tenant application (see photos below).

“We’re thankful to the San Francisco Planning Commission for their approval of our proposal to open a Nordstrom Local location at 1919 Fillmore Street. We look forward to offering nearby customers convenient access to our services and bringing the Nordstrom experience closer to home,” Nordstrom said in a statement to KRON4.com.

The opening of the Fillmore Street location comes nearly two years after Nordstrom decided to pull the plug on its multi-story store in San Francisco’s struggling Union Square neighborhood. The next closest Nordstrom stores to San Francisco are in Corte Madera and Walnut Creek.