Pete Nordstrom paid tribute to his late father and brother as he accepted the honor of Retailer of the Year at the 2025 Footwear News Achievement Awards on Wednesday.
“This honor makes me think about my [late] dad and my brother in particular, who were really into the shoe business,” Nordstrom, co-chief executive officer of the department store chain, said. “No matter what happened with the company, where we went and what we achieved, they always came back to shoes.”
Nordstrom recalled that when FN gave his late father, Bruce Nordstrom, who died in 2024 at the age of 90, the Hall of Fame recognition. “That meant a ton to him, more than any kind of recognition I think he could have gotten in any other forum,” the co-CEO said. “And, you know, that’s not lost on me standing up here.”
“And I want to make sure that the same thing is true for Blake [Nordstrom, who died in 2019 at the age of 58],” Nordstrom continued. “I mean, he really loved the shoe business, and it really informed who he was as a leader. [Blake] was a kind guy, a kind leader and the culture keeper for our company. I proudly accept this award in their honor.”
Nordstrom, who accepted the award from 2024 FNAA Lifetime Achievement Award winner Kenneth Cole, had a game-changing 2025.
In May, brothers Erik and Pete Nordstrom and their cousin Jamie, along with El Puerto de Liverpool, finalized their $6.25 billion, all-cash acquisition of the department store chain.
Kenneth Cole and Pete Nordstrom at the 2025 Footwear News Achievement Awards held at Cipriani 25 Broadway on December 3, 2025 in New York, New York.
John Nacion
With the completion of the transaction, the Nordstroms now have a 50.1 percent controlling stake in the company, and Liverpool has a 49.9 percent stake. Nordstrom is based in Seattle, while Liverpool is based in Mexico City.
Founded in 1901 as a shoe retailer, the company now operates more than 350 Nordstrom, Nordstrom Local and Nordstrom Rack locations.
“The fact that we were a shoe business for the first 65 years or so of our existence informs everything about our legacy, our heritage and where all our values came from,” Nordstrom said.
As a new chapter unfolds, the department store is emphasizing its footwear roots even further with the “Make Room for Shoes” initiative, announced last year. It’s come to life through monthly partnerships with top brands, including Adidas, On, Tory Burch, Sperry, Ugg, Birkenstock, Stuart Weitzman, Sam Edelman, Larroudé, Dolce Vita, Reformation and more.
For 39 years, the annual FN Achievement Awards — often called the “Shoe Oscars” — have celebrated the style stars, best brand stories, ardent philanthropists, emerging talents and industry veterans. The 2025 event is supported by Caleres, Listrak, Nordstrom, Skechers, Vibram and Wolverine Worldwide.
