Nordstrom appeals to Boyer

The same day the LDS Church announced it had agreed to buy the Crossroads Plaza shopping center, its most coveted retailer started packing its bags.

Nordstrom Inc. announced Wednesday afternoon that it has filed a letter of intent with The Boyer Co. to open a 124,000-square-foot store at The Gateway once its lease expires at Crossroads in August 2005.

Earlier in the day, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints confirmed it had signed an agreement in principle to purchase the mall; among the reasons LDS Church Presiding Bishop H. David Burton cited were the revitalization of Main Street and the safety and vitality of the area surrounding the church's administrative and sacred buildings.

Bishop Burton said the church was eager to sit down with Nordstrom to discuss whether the store could be persuaded to stay. But it looks as though that won't happen.

Nordstrom spokeswoman Brooke White thanked the church for its efforts on Nordstrom's behalf but said the time for negotiating and submitting new proposals has passed.

"At this point in time, we feel our best shot at success is at The Gateway," White said. "We want to stay in Salt Lake very, very much. We have worked hard to be diligent, to look in good faith at all of our options. But time has run out, and really our only option is The Gateway."

Church officials declined to comment on the issue further, except to say the plan to purchase the mall will progress on schedule.

"The decision to purchase Crossroads mall is not dependent upon whether Nordstrom remains as a tenant," said church spokesman Michael Purdy.

Boyer Co. spokesman Jake Boyer confirmed the company had submitted a proposal to Nordstrom, outlining its plans to build a store at the north end of the shopping complex. The company is gratified Nordstrom accepted its proposal, Boyer said, but it is fully aware the biggest challenges lay ahead.

Before Nordstrom can break ground — something it must do by June 2004 at the latest, according to White — it must receive approval from the city's Redevelopment Agency Board. For that to happen, the board would have to change or waive city ordinances and zoning rules that currently prohibit a store larger than 45,000 square feet from opening at The Gateway.

At the time the ordinances were crafted, the intent was to ensure that The Gateway would not lure anchor tenants from nearby malls. The language was included, council members assert, specifically with Nordstrom and other large department stores in mind.