Nordstrom Rack will open May 19 in Friendship Heights in the former Linens 'n Things location a month earlier than originally planned, it was learned last week.

The store, offering a wide range of Nordstrom’s items at 50 to 60 percent below the original prices in Nordstrom’s stores or on nordstrom.com, will be the sixth Nordstrom Rack facility in the metro area but the first in the Washington, D.C.

A spokeswoman for Federal Realty confirmed plans for the Nordstrom Rack unit in a phone conversation last week, indicating it would open sometime at 5333 Wisconsin Ave. NW in May, about a month earlier than originally anticipated.

A sign in the store window announces the May 19 opening date.

The Linens 'n Things location is just down the street from the Borders bookstore which is scheduled to close in mid-April, as previously reported.

“We’re thrilled about this opportunity to open our first Nordstrom Rack in the District,” said Geevy Thomas, president of Nordstrom Rack in disclosing the Seattle-based firm’s plans last June (see June 2, 2010 press release/PDF in gallery).

“We’re very fortunate to have lots of great customers in the Washington area and we hope we’ll be better able to serve them at our Friendship Heights Rack.”

The only Nordstrom Rack location in suburban Maryland is in Gaithersburg, Md., while the four other Rack units are in Virginia — Pentagon City in Arlington, Dulles Town Center in Sterling, Woodbridge and Fair Lakes.

“We’re excited Nordstrom Rack is coming to Friendship Center, a dynamic location in the heart of one of D.C.’s bustling retail corridors,” said Chris Weilminster, senior vice president for leasing, at Federal Realty, in making the announcement last year.

Nordstrom Rack is the retail division of Nordstrom Inc. It carries merchandise at discount prices, generally 50 percent to 60 percent below listed prices in its larger department stores such as the one at Montgomery Mall.