Nordstrom said in a statement "it is with deep sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of Blake Nordstrom."
Blake Nordstrom served as co-president with Pete Nordstrom and Erik Nordstrom. The company said Pete and Erik will continue as executive leaders of the company.
Blake Nordstrom was a lifelong employee of the retail giant. He moved up the ranks over the years to become a vice president and then co-president.
The Seattle-based Nordstrom department stores became prolific in the American shopping landscape in the 20th and early 21st centuries. But, like many other traditional brick-and-mortar stores, the company has struggled with the advent of online shopping. The high-end retailer has turned its attention to online growth, reporting in August that digital revenue now accounts for more than a third of its overall sales.
Neil Saunders, managing director at GlobalData Retail, told CNN Business that he thinks Nordstrom has a "solid long-term future."
As of March 2018, Nordstrom operated 363 stores across 40 U.S. states, including Nordstrom and discounted Nordstrom Rack locations, as well as six Nordstrom full-line stores in Canada. It employed about 72,500 as of 2017.
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