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If you're in the market for salon shoes...go to VIRGINIA.
So, Nordstrom is having their 40% off pre-sale on salon shoes. I discovered this at 10 p.m. PST on Monday, and being the crazy shopper b*tch that I am, I panicked thinking no one's open. *light bulb* ...Hawaii! Of course!
I immediately called the Hawaii store, and Virginia was the one who picked up. I told her the brands I was interested in and the styles I like, and she was quick to pull up several shoes that she thinks I might like. She stayed on the phone while I researched on the internet, and eventually pre-sold two pairs for me.
Somehow, she sensed the angst in my voice...and immediately offered "I could email you a full list from the brands you're interested in, and you could call me tomorrow if you want more". Sure enough, by noon the next day, I received an email from her that listed out all the YSLs, Choos, & Manolos on sale in my size from every store in the US. Of course, I found two from that list and as service would have it...she presold it for me even though it was located elsewhere.
I know Hawaiians are nice in general, but she totally went above and beyond. Awesome job Virginia =)
I've got to say, this place is effing beautiful.
Also, I know for a fact that this Nordstrom has the most stuff out of all nordstrom's because it's in hawaii and it's the only Nordstrom they have. Also, because this store is so far away from all the other Nordstrom, they normally don't ship out their stuff to other stores whenever they place an order for something they don't have. Their resources are precious.
Anyways, why -1 star then? This place was open last year. It's brand spanking new. A brand spanking new store means new employees. They're a little fresh on the customer service part.
I came in because I forgot my Chanel sunblock and decided to just buy it here. Unfortunately, it's Hawaii and they were all sold out! (Go figure) So the SA had told me that a new shipment of them were coming in the next day and I could just pre-order it and pick it up tomorrow. So I agreed.
I called the next day telling them I wasn't going to come in because we were actually going to be at North Shore all day and I told them to put it aside and I'll come later. When I did come to pick it up, they didn't have it? Actually the shipment never came and no one had told me? It was so weird because I even called to tell them I was coming and for some reason the person on the phone didn't even realize what I was talking about. Miscommunication. Anyways, I feel like that wouldn't happen at the Nordstroms over in California.
The store is nice and pleasant looking. Shopping here definitely gives you a relaxed feeling. Most of the staff is very helpful and when my husband needed to purchase some shoes and jeans, they promptly assisted him. I had good service on the third floor when I had to buy some jeans and the woman that was helping me was very patient with me since I couldn't make up my mind.
The only gripe I have is the restroom...women's restroom that is. There should be one right by the cafe where it's convenient. This is the only thing that doesn't make sense to me.
The store has a very clean feel to it. Seeing as Nordstrom's is more towards the high end of the department store spectrum, it's something I expect. It's dressing rooms are pretty cool with video games for kids. I bought a suit (not many people buy suits in Hawaii since it's usually 'ok' to wear a nice Hawaiian print shirt to work), but it was a great experience with knowledgeable staff and quick turn around on the tailoring. The two places to eat aren't too bad either.
This is on my top 5 favorite stores here simply because of the selection and the layout of the store + the gelato bar/cafeteria/coffee bar.
Normally, I would never have gone to a Nordstrom always having preferred Barney's and Bergdorf in NYC or any of the awesome Japanese department stores in Tokyo (Isetan!) Having gone to the Neiman Marcus and Macy's here first, I figured I would hate Nordstrom as well. But they have a decent enough selection of clothes/shoes to make it shop worthy. Plus their bag/shoe areas are pretty good too with some designer stuff as well. The cosmetics area has Kiehl's and the usual brands but I go there for the Kiehl's. The sunglasses section isn't too shabby either.
The staff are great! They remember your name if you are a repeat customer and they are very helpful. I gave an extra star for them. Some of the shoe section people can be a bit pushy but the clothing section people are wonderful.
The prices are fine. I am not sure why people think it's expensive - it's the same as any other department store. If you buy Alexander Wang, it will be a similar price whether you buy here or in some boutique in LA or NYC. Designer is designer.
The sales they have are pretty good. Not as good as in other cities/countries where you can get those Louboutins for 250 instead of 900 but still good. I liked the twice a year sale better than the anniversary one though.
So to sum up, while it's not enough to satisfy my shopping cravings all the time, Nordstrom is still the better department store here. For the rest, there are airplanes and the internet!
This ONE star "update" is just for the restroom situation.
Maybe, due to all my Nordstrom excitement, I was too distracted to realize that their restroom locations suck. First of all, WHY isn't there a restroom anywhere near the cafe???? Not only that, WHY is there ONLY a men's restroom on that floor??? Do us women not have to pee??? GOOD GRIEF!!! What the hell kinda big ass rockin' department store takes the time to put XBOXes in a kid's dressing room yet fails to put a friggin' bathroom in that department?! huh????!!!!!
I'm disgusted. And I'm cursing whoever came up with this lame design every single time I have to ride my ass either up or down the elevator to play hide and seek with the bathrooms! LAME!!!!
pretty soon i'm just gonna change my mind... take back all those nice things i said if my bladder explodes.
WOO HOO! If ya hated shopping before... you'll join the shop-a-holic- bandwagon after you stroll… Read more »
Ugh! Worst work experience, ever!
Snakes of co-workers who would willingly spill your blood just to get 3-8% commision, managers who would reward the sharks who would steal everybody else's sales by putting their names on the top of their daily sellers list... Everyday was like a reality show--tons of workers were getting cut, even more workers were leaving because of the hostile, low-security environment.... The list goes on!
I honestly thought this would be a fun job on top of my studies at UH, but when I finished my sixth month at Nordstrom, it only made me despise these kinds of propaganda-spouting corporations more.
None of my money will ever be going to this location.
However, if there was ever a bright side, it would be that my Nordstrom experience has fueled my desire to have a career in social services or any other job that doesn't directly have anything to do with business! :P
Nordstrom Ala Moana is probably one of the nicest department store locations within the whole company. I had a great shopping experience while I was there visiting the islands...in part because of the service that I received from Nick Davis in the Men's Sportswear department.
The day before I was scheduled to leave back to the mainland, I received an email from a potential employer on Oahu asking if I were available for an interview. The message literally came out of nowhere, and caught me by surprise. I hadn't packed any of my typical interview clothes, and needed something to just "get by" in a pinch. Knowing that I would arrive at the store probably 15 minutes prior to closing, I called the store and asked for some items to be pre-selected for me.
Upon my arrival, Nick had everything ready to go. Multiple combinations in terms of dress shirts/colors, paired with the ready-to-wear Smartcare supima cotton flat front pants, since there was no time to get anything altered since I was there just moments before closing and needed the items for a meeting first thing the next morning. I ran in to the fitting room, tried the items on, made the selections with his consultation, and was on my way.
Nick is a true professional, and the company is lucky to have him on their team. If you ever need anything in the men's departments while visiting the Ala Moana store, please be sure to visit him. Simply a class act, and one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet.
P.S. Nordstrom Ala Moana DOES NOT mark up their prices in comparison to the mainland stores. Contrary to popular belief, the prices are the same whether you are shopping at a Nordstrom in Honolulu or Los Angeles!
It's like a huge mall in it's ownself, empty like a ghost town during weekdays especially at night. I don't buy anything here because it's really expensive, and the fact that all their designer items are right there on display and everyone can touch, ruin, damage them. If your like me and prefer the traditional setting of displayed designer stuff in glass cases and on shelfs that need to be requested to be taken down for a look, this is isn't the place. If you DO prefer buying buying $800 handbags hanging on racks by the handle this is the place...
Staff are more than helpful, and one even told my older sister while she was going to pick up a white dress for her school's dance that someone else from the same school had the exact dress waiting for pick up as well. Thankfully the staff saved my sister from having the same dress as somebody else.
I just got a super cute pair of Tory Burch flats at a great price during the Black Friday sale. The salesman was very helpful and re-measured my foot for accurate sizing. The shoes are beautiful and I decided to wear them out.
BUT....later on, while in another store, a man walked up to me and said, "Nice shoes! Where'd you get them?" I proudly announced, "Nordstrom!" Then he said, "on sale, right? I work there...good thing you got them for cheaper. They arent worth the price"
WOW...does anyone else think that these comments were unneccessary and borderline innappropriate? Maybe I'm just touchy. ANyway, I deducted one star for that guy. Boo.
Ten times better than Macy's.
Contrary to popular belief, it is not that expensive to shop here. I found some great things here for a decent price. I also love the fact that they sell Kiehl's products here, I would only go into Neimans for that but now I can just go into Nordstrom and buy everything there :) good customer service. Great gelato bar - which was strangely inexpensive, PLUS!
AND THE BATHROOMS/WOMEN'S LOUNGE. I CAN GO ON, AND ON, AND ON.....
I must confess: I hate shopping. Jean-Paul Sartre was wrong when he said, "Hell is other people." The fact of the matter is, Hell is being condemned to shopping for clothes in a mall, as far as I'm concerned.
However...I recently went shopping here with my wife (the kids were with Grandma). We bought a Quicksilver shirt for my son, and a cute bathing suit for my daughter. I actually felt...relaxed! My heart didn't race, I didn't feel faint, I didn't start zoning out...I didn't transform into a zombie. Why is this?
Well...the sales consultants (I'm not sure what their titles are here; I just made that one up) were genuinely helpful and friendly. The merchandise is arranged in such a way that doesn't feel cluttered and crowded. The lighting is not overly bright, but not too dim, either. The clothes look new (unlike Macy's, where it looks like stuff has been there for years, especially in the men's section). And yes, it's pricey, but nowhere near the astronomically inflated prices of "Needless Markup" (Nieman Marcus)! And, as Anjelika mentioned in her review, there is an abundance of chairs for the tired and hungry to sit. I call them "Man Chairs." Not meaning to sound chauvinistic, but I do observe a preponderance of men sitting in them. So, while I'll never be a shopaholic, I actually didn't mind my experience here, and may even come back some day.
My favorite department store in the mall--better quality than Macy's, better prices than Neiman Marcus, and the last one isn't worth mentioning (starts with S, rhymes with ears). It's easy on the eyes and a breeze to navigate, too.
I'm not much of a shoe person (it's slippers all day everyday for me), so I don't come here for the famous footwear. I'm a big fan of the accessories department, though--there's an amazing selection of handbags, sunglasses, watches, etc.
Handbags: All high-end of course, but you'll find lesser known brands like Longchamps and Botkier--you know, stuff that 99.8% of the women in Hawaii aren't carrying... yet.
Sunglasses: HALLELUJAH, A DREAM COME TRUE! I have an abnormally large, weird-shaped head and I was able to find half a dozen pairs of sunglasses that I just loved. The men's sunglasses selection is shiteous, though.
Watches: Tres chic with subtle bling. The Burberry ones are surprising not unaffordable.
Ok, so I haven't bought anything from here yet, but that's because I can't decide between all the stuff I like. I can't get them all, you know--this isn't Sears. I'll be back, though, and hopefully armed with some dough.
P.S. The Gelato Bar is so underwhelming. It's hard to find and there's only 10 flavors. Lame.
Nice, but did we really need another store like Neiman Marcus? I like that they have their own cafe (long line at lunch!) and coffee shop. The person helping me was REALLy nice and helpful, even though I came into the store looking kind of like crap. Thanks so much!
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4/30/08
Ooo - I tried the cafe. It was great! I didn't expect it to be in the format of a hospital cafeteria - was wary of the service, but the service turned out to be great! I saved half my grilled avocado club panini for the next day and it was still yummy! Would hope so since it was an $11 sandwich. Was totally worth it. Came with kettle fried potato chips.
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Wow, they have an actual live pianist playing overly mellow piano jazz-esque stuff. The guy's name is Josh, he has CDs available, no tipping dish (I guess that's in poor taste...?), and he plays with his jazz quartet Friday nights at the Dragon-something - you know, above Hank's bar downtown.
Good store, but weak by Nordstrom standards.
I was really disappointed, and expected more from a flagship store of a state. I remember coming into the store being a little disappointed. They did have a lot of brands that were not easy to find in Hawaii. However, something was lacking. I remember the Nordstroms in other cities having much more in both scale and scope. The store is actually not as big as I expected. There wasn't as much variety as I would've liked; the selection can be a bit limited for a store like Nordstrom. The store just didn't live up to the hype; I should've known.
On a side note, I am sad that some of these brands are so readily available. Now, every collar-popping, striped-dress-shirt-wearing dork will be able to readily find these brands I like. Sad. HAHA!! Well, at least it adds something to the fashion "scene" of Hawaii that I think was missing before.
All in all, the store didn't bend the fabric of space and time as the media hype would have you believe.
I'm really only reviewing the nail salon here - I needed a manicure before doing fiddly little finger craft work.
meh. I've had the same quality work done at the $10 salons.
I enjoyed looking over the extensive Bare Minerals display and samples on my way out, though.
I went to Nordstrom's tonight and it was really nice. My family and I enjoyed looking around at all the new stores and clothes. I love the service there, the employees were friendly and helpful.The prices however made me want to wait till I got to the mainland to go shopping. J.Crew in Ohio is half the price it is over here so I kinda freaked for a bit then remembered ... hello I live in Hawaii everything is freakin expensive here.... Outside Nordstrom's they have their own coffee place and their coffee was delicious. The woman that we ordered our coffee from was insightful and friendly.
The only problem I had was when I went to the family bathroom on the first floor to change my baby and use the restroom, there was no toilet paper at all. It was funny that someone else commented about the same thing... one would think right?
5/10/08 - Update
Now that the "Big Opening" is over, I went to see how things were doing....Loved it!
As I wandered through the shoe department, I noticed the store manager Brian standing on the floor with a clipboard in his hand....He is a working guy..in the trenches, speaking with customers and observing the floor...Love it!
I ended up buying a pair of shoes from a gentleman named Michael Wong....Talk about service. Michael measured my feet, both of them, then brought out a number of shoes. I quickly zeroed in on the pair I wanted and he then made sure they fit me properly. He brought all kinds of orthodics to make sure the arched fit in the right place and the width was correct. There was another pair I wanted, but they were out of stock in my size. He's gonna order in my size and call me when they come in.
Love the service and the sincere professionalism of the sales staff....
In addition, Brian asked me if I knew that they do makeovers in the cosmetic department.....I didn't know that...So ladies, tho't I post this so you now are on notice that NORDSTROM DOES MAKE-OVERS!
Love that store!
3/7/08 Store opened today...so of course I had to go again.....It was FABULOUS!!!! Nordstrom has brought new energy to Hawaii shopping! The store was all a buzz with shoppers, old, young, in wheelchairs and rushing around....you could see the excitement on people's faces and feel the joy in shopping again! It was a harried feeling but one of excitement and happiness.
Customer service is back! Hopefully to stay! They have lots of wonderful promotions! When you go into the dressing rooms, there are people there to assist you in finding another size, style, etc! You don't have to get dressed and search for yourself!
Folks! you gotta go to see the new store and enjoy your self shopping again!
Thank you Nordstrom for coming to Hawaii..we need this revitalization in our shopping!
Just returned from the Gala at Nordstrom....WOW! What a beautiful store! It was nice to see that they used so many of our local companies in putting it together.
The event was very nice! Great food, drink, desserts, etc...The staff was very welcoming and everyone was so comfortable. They provided a very friendly and gracious feeling in the store...
Very nice selection of merchandise and from what I hear they are listening to the sales staff as far as what else to include. I was assured they will have ample supply in the right sizes for us....I think they fit the niche between Macys and Neiman Marcus....just where I want to be!
They have lots of services and nice promotions...hopefully this will continue...
Welcome Nordstrom! I look forward to doing some serious shopping there.
Nordstrom was definitely the news around town, and everyone seemed so excited about nordstroms opening up. I heard about it everywhere i went... well not everywhere, but when we were hanging out my friend's family all they talked about was nordstroms, i had to check it out for myself.
This Nordstroms blew me away! Definitely one of the nicest Nordstroms i've been too. They still offer the same great clothing here, and the same great service they provide everywhere! I love Nordstroms!
At first I wasn't sure how I'd feel about Nordstrom's coming to Ala Moana - all that construction really put a hindrance on my Ala Moana visits. But now we have a brand, spanking new department store to shop in and I really can't say that I can complain about that. In fact, the more I think about it - the more excited I get! Yahoo!
Nordstrom is bigger than Neiman's but smaller than Macy's. Just the right size if you ask me! There are 5 shoe departments (that's right, 5!) and 3 of them are for the ladies. Can I get another yahoo?
There's cosmetics galore, and jewelry, and handbags and sunglasses and accessories and lots and lots of clothes!
Customer service is supposed to be big at Nordstrom and so far I'd have to say I'm not disappointed. Everyone was happy and friendly and helpful - and why not? Ala Moana is all a buzz this week with ShopAlea going on. I really should have took some vacation this week! LOL
I didn't stop in the lingerie department but it looks very promising. I also read in the newspaper that specialists will be able to assist women with finding their correct bra size and the range of sizes is vast!
There is a nice mix of cool designers as well as some local designers (I saw some Fighting Eel stuff there!) I think the general public opening is on March 7th - have fun and shop til you drop!
I love Nordstrom in general. But this Nordstrom was AMAZING! Well I'm basing this off of my impression of their shoe clearance racks. Compared to the other Nordstrom that I've been to in SoCal and in the mainland this Nordstrom had a whole lot more selection. My girlfriends and I were in complete awe when we stepped into the shoe department.
I love Nordstrom :]
A little on the expensive side but I've found some good deals on dresses and t-shirts in the BP department. I don't really walk over to the Nordstrom side when I'm shopping at Ala Moana but when I really need to use the bathroom (I hate using public restrooms, especially the one on ground level by center stage ICK!) or wash my hands (I'm a compulsive hand-washer), I'll make a trip to Nordstrom and since I'm there already, I'll browse the BP and TBD departments.
I have encountered a rude salesperson there before: I was looking at the Philip Stein watch section and I was only interested in the watch straps. I wanted to know what sizes they had because I needed a strap to go on one of my existing watches. The sales lady told me (in a rude way) that the Philip Stein straps only fit Philip Stein watches. I pointed to the section right next to that one (Michele, maybe) and asked about those. She said Michele straps only fit Michele watches. She didn't even offer to take it out and show it to me or at least answer my initial question about the sizes they came in. I worked in a watch and jewelry store and those straps were no different from the ones we sold at our store to fit any kind of watch. To be sure, I also asked my friend who has sold Michele watches. Seems to me the sales lady only wanted to help me if I was gonna buy a watch. Hello?! I'm guessing those straps cost around $80...isn't it better to make an $80 sale than no sale at all? BIOTCH. I've been meaning to go back when someone else is there and ask about the watch straps just to see if they would say the same thing the other lady did. Besides that, I haven't had any other rude salespeople encounters. But then again, I tend to steer clear of them because I'm an independent shopper and hate being bugged while shopping...also hate it when they try to help by making suggestions. You don't know me or my style so just back off!
i was impressed by the clean and upscale "neiman marcus-sy" look and feel to the place. i believe the sales associate was wearing a jacket? wow.
things are pretty expensive, so dig through the sales rack and you can find a good deal. the bf and i were at the shoe rack looking for shoes for him, and we met around the shoe rack holding the same shoe - so he bought it. the sales associate was very friendly and helpful with his recommendations, and even threw in a metal shoe horn.
if it weren't so late in the day, i would have checked out the cafe and the e-bar.
too bad i didn't check out the bathroom/lounge - i read that it's amazing.
9/1/08: Great department store. My wife and I stopped by for lunch at the Cafe (see my other review). I looked around the men's department and picked up some surf shorts and a short sleeve dress shirt. A very helpful salesperson, Dennis, worked with us out very patiently. Clearly, he (and his employer) understands the virtues of customer service versus other department stores. I almost feel like Nordstroms is to Macy as Lowe's is to Home Depot (HD is always a chaotic mess with crap all over the place). No qualms about returning in the future. Now, will they ever open a location in Hilo...
I came here for a mani/pedi appointment at their Lippmann Nail Studio. The experience was awesome, more so because I had just flew in a few hours before my appointment. Kandice was great. It was my first time having a pedicure, and I wasn't sure if I'd end up being ticklish (hence get violent and possibly kick her in the face), but I was completely at ease. The hand and foot massages were the best part. She also gave me the lowdown about the brand and a few recommendations on places to see in Honolulu. There was no pressure to buy anything, but I did purchase the nail polish that she used. The colors are based on song titles. Cute! I went home with a bottle of "Whatever Lola Wants". Nordie's and Kandice get two thumbs up from me.
Nice store, extremely overrated. Now it is like a ghost town unless you going use the bathroom. They had the best customer service in the beginning when they first opened (supposedly), but now their service is not that great. Salespeople that ignore you and rather talk amongst themselves than talk to you. Also their selections aren't that great. So pricey and identical to what Macy's has, except Macy's has a bigger discount to offer than they do.
As an employee for this company, I'm am beyond in love with this store. I was absolutely blown away at how well Nordstrom incorporated local culture and expectations into their shopping experience. Since I studied Japanese in college, I really enjoyed walking around and reading it everywhere and hearing it used by salespeople. The staff is really quite wonderful at making sure everyone is taken care of.
To answer the earlier comment about the size and product.....This is one of the last biggest footprints that Nordstrom has built to date, this and Boston being the last as all new stores from here on out will be around 135,000 sq ft. The store is really focused on offering a large selection of specific vendors that either are not usually available elsewhere on the island or are new, upcoming designers. As time goes on, the buyers will focus their selection of product based on market trends - which means even more specialization in product, what Nordstrom is known for best. Yes, it's pricey, but you're paying for the labels which are comparable at Neiman's and Bloomies. They actually offer a wide variety of items under a broad range of prices and Nordstrom guarantees to be the cheapest price in town. And if you can't find it in the store, they'll order it for you free of charge! So really the shopping world in Hawaii has just grown exponentially from the opening of a Nordstrom and no one can complain!
The ambience is wonderful, offers above and beyond the full-fledged service with a nail salon, gelato bar (by the way, no other Nordstrom will have ever this) and buffet-style cafe (as a new thing to the company). Go see my favs in the store: Damon, First Asst. in Salon Shoes, Zack Hansel in Women's Shoes, Emma Hansel Dept. Manager in Fine Jewelry and Leanna in TBD!
If i were to rate department stores, this would be my favorite one. I dont know if it's cause it's new or b/c there's an xbox room, it's all good. So check out the new wing of ala moana.
This is the most beautiful Nordstrom in the country!!! The sales staff are extremely friendly and helpful...hello to Sharon in Cosmetics and Crystal in Kid's dept. who are so sweet! the merchandise at this location is plentiful and well spread out. The cafe downstairs is really a cafeteria style restaurant which has a good selection and Nordie service. Do me a favor and order the cheesecake which is one of the best cheesecakes I have ever had- this cheesecake is the sous chef's grandmother's recipe...ridiculously good!!! The on-line, pick up at the store service that is offered now is really convenient and time saving for busy moms like myself. I bought a pair of Uggs on line, late one night on their web site, and then the next day went to pick them up in customer service- no fuss...no muss!!! All that convenience with the Nordstrom guarantee!!! This is the place to buy shoes if you live in the Islands! The cosmetics counter is also amazing because the sales staff is well informed and super helpful! Check out the summer hats here if you are on vacation because I think the selection is better here than on the Mainland because of the resort atmosphere. Happy shopping!!!
It's a Nordstrom, so you pretty much know what kind of merchandise you'll find. Service here is mixed though. I've experienced excellent customer service from their women's shoes and men's departments. However, the other day in the women's hosiery department, a saleswoman allowed another customer to cut in front of me in line. She just told me coldly that she'll be "right with me." I don't know when they started condoning this type of behavior, but I put my merchandise back and left.
i havent been there yet but as long as they have a good selection of phillip lim, marc by marc jacobs im happy~! im so glad another high fashion dpt with excellent customer service & policy has arrived in Hawaii!!! i cant live without a nordstrom & im excited that this one is a flagship store!
best nordstrom in the world! im telling u! check it out! xbox in the fitting room!
Honolulu, HI
Category: Coffee & Tea
Honolulu, HI
Category: Women's Clothing
Honolulu, HI
Category: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
Honolulu, HI
Category: Department Stores
Honolulu, HI
Category: Department Stores
Don't want to look like a complete tourist that…
