Black Luxury CEO Says Nordstrom Manager ‘Stalked’ Him Through Store, Racially Profiled Him Over Service Dog

Nordstrom is facing allegations that a manager racially profiled a black luxury brand founder during a confrontation at an Arizona store — a dispute that could now spill into a civil-rights case as a key filing deadline looms.

Charles Sowell Kellam, founder of luxury brand Fruitful Rooster, claims a Nordstrom manager followed, confronted and humiliated him at Scottsdale Fashion Square on earlier this year while he was accompanied by his German Shepherd, Ruby, which he says is a trained service animal.

Kellam alleges he was singled out because he is black.

The March 21 confrontation eventually drew mall security and spilled into the mall concourse, where bystanders recorded portions of the incident, according to Atlanta Black Star.

It is unclear whether race motivated the manager’s actions as a key factual dispute centers on whether Kellam’s dog was properly leashed.

Atlanta Black Star reported that Ruby was a “leashed, trained” service animal, while Woods also said the dog was properly leashed.

Kellam, however, recounted the manager telling him that next time he should “bring a leash” — suggesting Nordstrom personnel may have believed the dog was not properly restrained.

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