ANDORRA, Nov 16, 2004/ FW/ --- Taking time to walk in a city the size of Los Angeles one sees things you would hardly notice from a car --- the signage, the boutiques, the shopping malls, the restaurants, and everyday life.

Last summer, I had an appointment to do research at the Getty Research Institute. I decided to walk from West Los Angeles to Westwood Village then to the J. Paul Getty Museum over a portion of what was once the Spanish Portola Trail.

For me it was also walking down memory lane as I once lived in the area while I was a student at UCLA. This is a personal urban journey.

Westside Pavilion – Jon Jerde

My starting point was near the Westside Pavilion a shopping mall designed by the architectural firm the Jerde Partnership, founded by Jon Adam Jerde in 1977. The Jerde Partnership is the team behind the development of the Mall of America in Minneapolis, City Walk at Universal Studios and the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.

Jerde is known for going in to revitalize urban centers and stimulate city economies by designing spaces where people want to meet, go shopping and have a good time. Jon Jerde in his imaginative approach to designing shopping malls brought the science fiction writer Ray Bradbury in as a creative consultant when the Jerde Partnership was designing the Glendale Galleria.

It is said that Jerde is not interested in shopping what really interests him is theater; this architectural theatricality can be seen in his projects around the globe in Europe and Asia.

From One Gold Mine to Another

One of the key tenants at the Westside Pavilion is Nordstrom. Nordstrom was founded in Seattle, Washington as a shoe store in 1901 by John W. Nordstrom and Carl Wallin.

Nordstrom emigrated from Sweden when he was 16 years old in 1887. He is truly an example of someone going for the American dream. He worked his way across the country laboring in mines and logging camps, finally ending up in Alaska where he managed to earn $13,000 in a gold mine stake. This is where he met Wallin, who had a shoe repair store in Seattle Washington. Their partnership lasted close to 28 years.

By 1929 John Nordstrom and Carl Wallin had both retired and sold their shares of the company to Everett and Elmer Nordstrom, their brother Lloyd joined the team in 1933. It wasn’t until 1963 that they expanded from shoes into apparel.

In 1968 the three Nordstrom brothers retired handing the reigns over to the next generation; Bruce, James and John Nordstrom, Jack MacMillan and Bob Bender. In 1975 they opened the first Nordstrom Rack as a clearance center for full-line store merchandise.

After more than one hundred years in business Nordstrom, Inc. is known for excellent customer service. Nordstrom brings an ambiance to shopping with live music provided by a pianist playing popular and classical tunes on a grand piano strategically placed for the acoustics. Sometimes it’s hard not to break out in song when a popular song floats up the escalator. John W. Nordstrom struck gold in the mines in Alaska and gold again in Seattle when he opened the store, which became today’s Nordstrom.

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Westside Pavilion

Nordstom

Nordstom

Nordstom