Nordstrom Rack to open Nov. 11 in Peoria’s Arrowhead Crossing

Kaelyne Peterson lives in Glendale, works in Peoria but drives to Scottsdale to get her fix of bargain-priced True Religion jeans from Nordstrom Rack. louis vuitton wallets

In less than four months, when the Nordstrom Rack - a brand that carries items 50 to 60 percent off the original price at the department store chain - opens its third Arizona store in Peoria’s Arrowhead Crossing, the 21-year-old could walk to the Rack from her workplace.

“Awesome! Fantastic!” Peterson said on learning an opening date has been set.

Nov. 11 will mark the brand’s entry into the West Valley. It is taking over a 36,000-square-foot space vacated by Linens ‘n Things south of Bell Road on 77th Avenue.

Scottsdale and Chandler each have a Nordstrom store and a Rack. Tucson is set to get a Rack next year.

A company spokesman said the Rack will hire about 70 people to staff the store.

Peterson isn’t the only one jumping with joy.

“It’s a great use of an existing, empty location, and it’s great that it’s going to be filled again,” said Maria Laughner, Peoria’s business and real estate development manager.

Between December 2009 and May, the city’s retail sales-tax revenue was up 3 percent compared with the same period a year earlier.

In addition to the sales-tax dollars, it would be great to see a new business thrive in the city, Laughner said. Cheap True Religion

“It makes me sleep well at night when our businesses do well. It’s sad to see businesses go under,” Laughner said.

While Peoria hasn’t lost too many stores in the economic drain that’s sucked the life from erstwhile retail giants, some notable chains have gone bust. Those include Linens ‘n Things and former retail giant Circuit City.

Laughner said the Rack would bring a different kind of brand to Peoria’s retail mix.

“It has a little bit more cachet, and it’s a draw in and of itself,” she said.

Nordstrom spokesman Colin Johnson said the company had been looking for a footprint in the West Valley.

“We know we’ve got lots of loyal customers in the area, and we felt this was a terrific shopping center in this part of the region,” Johnson said, referring to the bustling shopping area with a T.J. Maxx, Ulta and Barnes & Noble. It’s near Arrowhead Towne Center and close to the Loop 101 and Bell Road interchange.

He said the slacking economy accelerated the company’s long-term strategy to open more Racks.

“What happened is a lot of spaces became available in these shopping centers, which fit our long-term strategy, so we’ve been in the position to move quickly to open some of our stores, including this one,” Johnson said. ugg boots sale

Through the end of this year, the company plans to open 17 Nordstrom Rack stores and three Nordstrom stores nationwide.

A lot of customers shop at both stores, Johnson said, with the Rack holding the advantage of “terrific fashion finds at significant savings,” Johnson said.

That makes sense to James Ward, a professor at Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business.

“In the present economy, many consumers of luxury goods are looking for a good deal,” he said.