John W. Nordstrom

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John W. Nordstrom (John W. Nordström) (February 15, 1871 - October 11, 1963) was the co-founder of the Nordstrom department store chain. He was born in Luleå, Sweden on February 15, 1871 and emigrated to the United States at the age of 16. Arriving in America with $5 to his name, he worked his way across the continent taking jobs on railways and in mines, lumber camps and shipyards, eventually arriving in Seattle, WA in 1896. While working at a sawmill in the city he read a newspaper account of the discovery of gold in the Klondike and headed to Alaska to make his fortune. During the Klondike gold rush he befriended Carl Wallin, a shoemaker. After John returned to Seattle to settle down he and Carl opened Wallin & Nordstrom, a shoe store, at Fourth Avenue and Pike Street in 1901. From that first shoe store grew the Nordstrom retail empire. John Nordstorm retired in 1928 selling his stake to his sons Everett Nordstrom and Elmer Nordstrom. Everett and Elmer also acquired Carl Wallin's share of the company. John's third son Lloyd Nordstrom joined the company as a part owner in 1933. Members of the Nordstrom family still own 20% of Nordstrom Inc and closely supervise the chain.[1] Ironically John Nordstrom never had a passion for the shoe business, although he continued to show up at the shoe store almost daily into his mid 80s to chat with customers.[2] His initals (JWN) are used as Nordstroms' ticker symbol on the New York Stock Exchange.