The Seattle-based clothing retailer said Wednesday that rivalretailer Liberty House has refused to approve its entry. Althoughanchor mall tenants Sears and J.C. Penney approved Nordstrom'sentry, Liberty House is taking advantage of a provision in itslease that prohibits new retail buildings between storefronts andstreets without the approval of the anchor tenants.

Nordstrom began serving customers in Hawaii in the late 1960sthrough its agreement to operate the Liberty House shoedepartments. Liberty House terminated the agreement in1997.Nordstrom then opened two shoe stores at Ala Moana Center inNovember 1997, one for men and one for women and children.

Nordstrom says it is now looking for another location in Hawaii.The company also said it would continue to operate its shoe storesand would open its first Nordstrom Rack store in Hawaii at theVictoria Ward Center today.