More than half of respondents want smaller retailers to take over Nordstrom Canada’s soon-to-be-vacant spaces, The Logic’s March survey suggests.

The retail giant announced early March it is winding down its Canadian operations, following in the footsteps of other American brands like Target, Sears Canada and Bed Bath & Beyond that shuttered their forays here. 

More than 2,300 people will lose their jobs as Nordstrom shuts down, but the department-store chain also was an anchor tenant for many of the malls it was in—leaving behind large retail vacancies.

Malls have been struggling to keep tenants for years, and many shifted post-pandemic to be more experiential. The World of Barbie exhibit at Mississauga, Ont.’s Square One Shopping Centre, or the Revival Room, a 1990s-themed pop-up at CF Richmond Centre in B.C., are examples of tenants that differ from traditional brick-and-mortar stores. 

When asked what kind of spaces would be ideal replacements for Nordstrom locations, nearly 55 per cent of respondents said smaller retailers: “Let’s begin to find creative uses for these spaces. … Maybe community spaces for small independent retailers and art co-ops, with changing stores and products, curated for community [and] local startup vendors,” wrote one subscriber. 

But respondents were far from unanimous. Forty-five per cent said they’d like to see a large Canadian brand move into Nordstrom’s spaces, and 33 per cent said another foreign brand would be ideal.

“I shop at a lot of small local retailers, but I still love a big department store so I can buy shoes and a blazer,” another said.

Many respondents were mindful of affordability and the high costs that can come with shopping;

23 per cent said they were more likely to shop at The Bay in place of now-departed Nordstrom, and 15 per cent said they were more likely to go to Simons.

A total of 44 per cent of survey respondents said they never shopped at Nordstrom, with many  saying they’d take browse-only walks through the store, as the offerings appeared costly.

“The one in downtown Vancouver has basically only high-end designer things on the ground floor, so it feels extremely ‘exclusive’ despite there being some more reasonably priced articles upstairs,” one subscriber wrote.

Though 57 per cent of respondents said they feel compelled to shop with Canadian brands, many said their choices have more to do with price and offering. 

“When I’m shopping I’m usually looking for a particular level of quality at a particular price point—I don’t care where that comes from,” one subscriber said. 

Moreover, many respondents who said their first impulse is to shop Canadian acknowledged that they turn to foreign vendors if the product they want isn’t available here.

Shopping with Amazon appeared particularly divisive. One respondent wrote that they’re happy to shop with the e-commerce giant because there’s “less friction and large selection.” But another said, “When I buy a book, I always check Indigo before looking at Amazon. If we want Canadian retailers to thrive, we need to choose them first.”

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Methodology

The Logic emailed subscribers a private link to an online survey on March 20 and the survey closed March 22. Respondents’ identities were kept anonymous. Subscribers were asked, “How often did you shop at Nordstrom?” and could select: “At least once a month,” “Once every 3–6 months,” “Once a year or less” or “Never.” They were then asked, “Do you think the recent closures will deter other American or foreign brands from coming to Canada?” and could answer: “Yes,” “No,” or “Maybe.” Next, they were asked, “What kind of spaces would you like to see replace Nordstrom’s real estate vacancies? Check all that apply,” and could choose: “A large Canadian retailer,” “Another large foreign retailer,” “Movie theatre,” “Auto showroom,” “Museum,” “Dining,” “Smaller retailers,” Fitness centre/Gym,” or “Other: Please specify.” They were also asked, “Which brand are you likely to shop at more in place of Nordstrom?” and could select: “Saks Fifth Avenue,” “The Bay,” “Simons,” “Indigo,” “Holt Renfrew,” “Harry Rosen,” “I didn’t shop at Nordstrom” or “Other: Please specify.” Finally, respondents were asked, “Do you feel more compelled to shop with Canadian retailers?” and could select: “Yes” or “No.”