Liberty House may have been weakened by the financial difficulties that forced it into reorganization, but the store apparently is still playing for keeps, as seen in its recent turf-guarding in Honolulu. Exercising business one-upmanship over a rival clothing retailer
Liberty House may have been weakened by the financial difficulties that forced it into reorganization, but the store apparently is still playing for keeps, as seen in its recent turf-guarding in Honolulu.
Exercising business one-upmanship over a rival clothing retailer and former partner, Liberty House-whose outlets include the Kaua’i store at Kukui Grove Center-refused to accept Nordstrom as a new fellow tenant at Honolulu’s Ala Moana Center. Two other anchor tenants-Sears and J.C. Penney-approved Nordstrom’s attempted entry, but not Liberty House. Its management invoked a lease provision that gives existing Ala Moana anchor tenants the authority to reject new retail buildings in certain locations.
There was a time when what was good for Liberty House was good for Nordstrom. The latter operated Liberty House’s shoe departments before LH ended the arrangement in 1997, whereupon Nordstrom opened two shoe stores at Ala Moana.
In the wake of what’s happened since then, it’s good to see that Liberty House retains a competitive streak. Meanwhile, Nordstrom officials say they still want to open a store in Hawai’i. They’re welcome to check out Kaua’i.
