Store will host charity gala two days prior

By Heidi Roman
C & G Staff Writer

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Shoppers are eagerly awaiting the final piece of the Mall at Partridge Creek’s puzzle. The April 18 grand opening of Nordstrom is quickly approaching, and those who want a peek at the store before the crowds can purchase tickets now for an April 16 grand opening gala to benefit two local charities.

The 118,000-square-foot, two-story department store will join Parisian and MJR Theatre to anchor to the open-air mall, located on Hall Road in Clinton Township.

“We are really excited to get our doors open and start taking care of our customers,” said Nichole Shell, a spokesperson for Nordstrom Inc.

The store broke ground in April of 2007, not planning to open with the rest of the mall that October.

“The exterior of our building is completely finished and landscaped,” Shell said. “In the interior, we’re in the final process of installing casework.”

As the opening day for Nordstrom is growing nearer, the company and the mall’s staff are busy planning activities to celebrate its big debut, said Seok Chung, marketing and sponsorship director for the Mall at Partridge Creek. The details are being finalized now, Chung said.

But before opening day, the public has a chance to shop before the crowds and get a sneak peek at the store by attending a gala to benefit local charities. Tickets for the April 16 gala were expected to go on sale this week.

For a $75 ticket, guests will enjoy hors d’oeuvres, dinner and dessert buffets, cocktails and live entertainment — not to mention a look at the shoes, jewelry and fashion before the general public sees it. Guests will be able to peruse the racks and shop during the event.

The gala is expected to raise more than $90,000 for the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and Henry Ford Macomb Hospital. The event is completely underwritten by Nordstrom Inc.

Henry Ford Macomb Hospital in Clinton Township will use proceeds from the event to support its Neighbors Caring for Neighbors clinics in Mount Clemens and Washington Township. The clinics offer free health care to Macomb County residents who have no insurance and cannot afford treatment on their own.

The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, the other beneficiary of the event, will use the funds for its Phase I Clinical Trials Program, focused on developing treatments to fight cancer.

“We simply cannot thank Nordstrom enough for selecting the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute as one of the beneficiaries,” said Nick Karmanos, vice president of development at the Karmanos Cancer Institute, in a statement. “We encourage everyone to attend this great night of food, fun and fashion for a great cause.”

The benefit gala will be April 16 with doors opening at 7 p.m. For ticket information, call (313) 874-6734.

Nordstrom will open to the public on April 18. It will be the company’s third Detroit-area store.

“We hope that when we open on April 18, that we’ve got people outside of our doors,” Shell said. “We’re really excited about our opening, and we hope our customers are, as well.”

The Mall at Partridge Creek officially opened to the public on Oct. 18, 2007, to staggering crowds. The 640,000-square-foot, open-air mall was the first regional shopping center built in Macomb County in 30 years. The mall boasts nearly 90 stores and restaurants, many of which opened their first location in the county.

The mall is located on the south side of Hall Road between Garfield and Romeo Plank roads in Clinton Township.

You can reach Staff Writer Heidi Roman at hroman@candgnews.com or at (586) 218-5006.