They've committed to a date. Will they be able to keep it?

Sign on the hoarding around the new Nordstrom store at the Pacific Centre in Vancouver

It is a public declaration. The new Nordstrom store is to open in September 18, 2015. In less that a year Vancouverites will be able to enjoy the legendary customer service that Nordstrom is know for.

Do I expect the store to open on time? Absolutely.

Do I expect Vancouver shoppers to be impressed? They'd better be. If it was good for nothing else, Target's cross-Canada disaster of retail store launches has given Nordstrom a lot of mistakes to learn from.

As George Santayana said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."