SOUTH PORTLAND — Nordstrom, the Seattle-based high-end fashion and accessories retailer, will open its first store in Maine this spring at the Maine Crossing Shopping Center off Running Hill Road.

A 30,000-square-foot Nordstrom Rack will be built in the space formerly occupied by clothing retailer Old Navy.

According to a Nordstrom news release, Nordstrom Rack specializes in selling half-price apparel, shoes and accessories also found online and at larger Nordstrom department stores.

Nordstrom Rack stores also sell specifically selected apparel, shoes and accessories by the same brands offered at larger stores and online, discounted by 30 to 70 percent.

The nearest existing Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack stores are in Massachusetts. Nordstrom Rack President Geevy Thomas said he is excited to expand into Maine.

“We’ve been looking for ways to better serve our customers living in Maine who have been making the drive to visit our Rack stores in Boston and look forward to taking care of them when we open this spring at Maine Crossing,” Thomas said.

Maine Crossing Shopping Center is a 274,000-square-foot outdoor shopping center that includes Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Men’s Warehouse and A.C. Moore as its tenants. Old Navy moved from Maine Crossing to the Maine Mall in November 2011.

Nordstrom was established in 1901, and operates 240 stores in 31 states, including 119 Nordstrom Rack stores.

The announcement by Nordstrom Rack is the second in a month by a national retailer coming to Maine.

Last month, York, Pa.-based The Bon-Ton Stores announced plans to open its first Maine store, which will occupy 121,000 square feet at the Maine Mall.

Bon-Ton sells clothing, shoes, jewelry and home furnishings . The store will be in the former Filene’s space, which has been occupied by Summit Adventures. Company officials expect to being remodeling the store next month and hope to open in September, according to a news release.

The Maine store is one of two Bon-Ton will open in 2013; the other is in Indiana. The company now has 273 stores in 24 states in the Northeast, Midwest and upper Great Plains.